The Michigan Department of Attorney General (DAG) works tirelessly to protect and serve the people of Michigan. The DAG handles a wide range of legal matters from civil and criminal cases, to providing legal counsel to state agencies and officers, to advocating for crime victims.
The Michigan Department of Attorney General utilizes the services of Special Assistant Attorneys General from time to time when the unique circumstances of a particular case create the need for specialized services not currently available within the department.
The Michigan Attorney General has determined that a full and complete investigation of what happened within the Catholic Church is required. This investigation is and will continue to be independent, thorough, transparent, and prompt. My department and this investigation will find out who knew what, and when.
The Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU) investigates claims of innocence to determine whether there is clear and convincing new evidence that the convicted defendant was not the person who committed the offense.
In Michigan, a victim is an individual who suffers direct or threatened physical, financial, or emotional harm as a result of the commission of a crime.
Elder abuse happens when someone hurts, ignores, or takes advantage of an older adult. This may be someone who is of advanced age or is vulnerable and unable to protect themselves due to a mental or physical issues.
An expungement is a way to remove past offenses from your public record. Expansions under the “Clean Slate” laws include eligibility for up to three felonies and unlimited misdemeanors, excluding certain assault or weapons offenses and felonies that carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.
To investigate and prosecute hate crimes by following up on every credible tip and offer departmental resources to assist local and federal law enforcement partners in this effort.
The Michigan Attorney General is leading the fight against this horrific crime by prosecuting the state's first-ever criminal cases under state law banning human trafficking in Michigan. Victims of human trafficking are in bondage through force, fraud or coercion, for the purpose of sex or labor exploitation.
Knowing how to guard your personal information is your first line of defense against identity theft.
Michigan workers enjoy a wide variety of legal protections regarding issues at work. There are a number of state and federal statutes that protect their wages, safety, and well-being.
Opioid addiction knows no social or economic barriers; it doesn’t care about race or gender. It claims young and old alike. The Michigan Department of Attorney General is committed to fighting this crisis.
Michigan Attorney General's robocall initiative is leading several efforts to protect Michigan residents from the billion plus robocalls made to them every year.
Michigan's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), MCL 15.231 et seq, provides that requesters can receive copies or make inspections of most public records of public bodies upon written request.
The Open Meetings Act (OMA) took effect January 1, 1977. In enacting the OMA, the Legislature promoted a new era in governmental accountability and fostered openness in government to enhance responsible decision making.1 Nothing in the OMA prohibits a public body from adopting an ordinance, resolution, rule, or charter provision that requires a greater degree of openness relative to public body meetings than the standards provided for in the OMA. 2
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April 23, 2026
LANSING – Today, the Michigan Court of Claims dismissed a lawsuit filed against the State of Michigan (PDF) regarding the May 2020 Edenville Dam failure, announced Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. The Court found that the State was not responsible for the disaster and that the key allegations made by the plaintiffs were not supported by the evidence.
“The Edenville Dam failure was tragic, and while the evidence has always shown the State was not responsible, we have taken decisive action against those who were,” said Attorney General Nessel. “We acknowledge the lasting impact this has on Mid-Michigan, and our thoughts remain with those affected.”
On May 19, 2020, the east embankment of the Edenville Dam failed, sending a surge of water downstream that resulted in catastrophe for the surrounding communities, including State resources. The State had a substantial claim against the dam owners, but when the dam owners filed for bankruptcy and flood survivors pursued the owners’ assets, the State stepped out of the way to ensure that as much of the assets as possible would be distributed to flood survivors.
The State still pursued the dam owners in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan, and obtained a ruling that the owners had violated the law. In 2023, the State secured a nearly $120 million judgment against Lee Mueller, the person in charge of the dam, reflecting his responsibility for the catastrophic failure. The Court held that Mueller did not disclose his belief about the dam’s vulnerability to the State, and noted that Boyce Hydro “never implemented” a planned “cutoff wall” that “would have been more likely than not to have prevented the failure.”
The Court of Claims ruled decisively in favor of the State on every key factual and legal issue. The Court’s factual findings confirm what the State has been communicating to the public ever since the dam failed. For example, the Court found that:
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