CHFC 2018 Annual Report

asserted against each of them in this lawsuit are without merit and intend to vigorously defend against this lawsuit. On October 18, 2016, the Federal Court entered a stipulated order staying this action until the Oakland County Circuit Court issues rulings on motions for summary disposition In re Talmer Bancorp Shareholder Litigation , case number 2016-151641-CB. Following the Oakland County Circuit Court's denial of the Motions by KBW and the individual defendants and their ensuing application for leave to appeal that ruling, the Federal Court issued an order extending the stay of this action. On November 13, 2017, the Federal Court issued an Order Directing Plaintiff To Show Cause Why The Stay Should Not Be Lifted. On June 29, 2018, the Court issued an Order Lifting Stay. The plaintiff filed an amended complaint on July 27, 2018. In response to the amended complaint, the Defendants filed a Motion To Dismiss on August 24, 2018. A ruling on the Defendant's motion is awaited. On November 8, 2018, the Court entered an Order Staying Case Pending Appeal And Holding In Abeyance Motion To Dismiss. In the Order, the Court ruled that the case is stayed pending resolution of the appeals in the state court actions. The Order provides that if the Michigan Court of Appeals upholds the trial court decisions, and that ruling becomes final, the doctrine of collateral estoppel will preclude the plaintiffs in the City of Livonia and Nicholl cases from pursuing the federal case. In response to the failure of the City of Livonia case to qualify as a class action, on July 31, 2017, the same attorneys who filed the City of Livonia action field a new lawsuit in the Oakland County, Michigan Circuit Court, based on the Talmer transaction. That case is styled Kevin Nicholl v. Gary Torgow et al, Case No. 2017-160058-CB. The Nicholl case makes substantially the same claims as were brought in the City of Livonia case, and seeks certification of a shareholder class. The Nicholl case has been assigned to Judge Wendy Potts, the same judge presiding over the City of Livonia case. On November 22, 2017, the plaintiff filed a First Amended Complaint purporting to add the City of Livonia Employees’ Retirement System and Regina Gertel Lee as additional named plaintiffs in the case. The Defendants moved to strike the class allegations in the Nicholl case based on the failure of the plaintiffs to timely file a motion to certify a class. On April 2, 2018, the Court entered an opinion and order confirming that the class allegations in the Nicholl case are stricken, and the Nicholl case will proceed as an individual action only. OnApril 23, 2018, the plaintiffs filed a claim of appeal with the Michigan Court of Appeals from the Court’s April 2, 2018 opinion and order. As in the City of Livonia case, the Defendants filed motions for summary disposition in the Nicholl case, seeking dismissal of the Nicholl case. Argument on these motions was heard onApril 11, 2018, together with arguments on the summary disposition motions of the Defendants in the City of Livonia case. On May 8, 2018 the Court issued its opinion and order granting the motion of the Defendants, and dismissing the Nicholl case. On May 25, 2018 the plaintiffs filed a claim of appeal from the Court’s decision with the Michigan Court of Appeals. The Court’s dismissal of the Nicholl case obviates the April 23, 2018 appeal filed by the Nicholl plaintiff with respect to the Court’s order of April 2, 2018 finding that the plaintiff failed to timely certify a class in the Nicholl litigation. By order dated August 7, 2018, the Michigan Court of Appeals consolidated the Nicholl case with the City of Livonia case. A ruling from the Court is awaited. On January 3, 2018, the plaintiffs in the City of Livonia case filed a Motion For Voluntary Dismissal Without Prejudice. Defendants filed an opposition to that motion. The Court did not rule on that motion, pending ruling on the Defendant’s summary disposition motions in the City of Livonia and Nicholl cases. The Court's dismissal of the City of Livonia case obviates the need for a ruling on this motion. In addition, we are subject to certain legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management, after consultation with legal counsel, the ultimate disposition of these matters is not expected to have a material adverse effect on our Consolidated Financial Condition or Results of Operations. 33 Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures. Not applicable.