MI SB0038

Allows cities to file garnishment actions in court when a defendant fails to appeal a hearing officer's order for civil fines or costs within the allowed timeframe and the city has not obtained a lien.

Courts must issue a writ of garnishment immediately upon filing, which serves in place of a summons and complaint, with the same response deadlines as standard garnishment actions.

Cities may name multiple initial garnishee defendants in a single action and obtain subsequent writs against additional garnishee defendants without court permission.

Defendants and garnishee defendants are prohibited from raising any issues in the garnishment action that could have been appealed under the home rule city act's appeals process.

Garnishment actions under this section otherwise follow existing statutes and court rules applicable to other garnishment actions, except as modified by rules adopted by the Michigan Supreme Court.