Jones v Walled Lake, Mich Court of Appeals, decided June 17, 2021 (Docket No. 350997)

Plaintiffs sued the City of Walled Lake and its City Manager alleging defamation. The circuit court granted summary disposition but denied absolute immunity to the City Manager, finding his role to be administrative rather than executive in nature. The Court of Appeals affirmed summary disposition to the City and, on the City Manager’s cross-appeal, held that he was entitled to absolute statutory immunity as the City’s highest appointed executive official. Absolute immunity was not reserved solely for the Mayor as the elected executive official.