Last Thursday (July 8, 2010), the Michigan Supreme Court brought down a 4-3 decision allowing insurance providers to use credit score data when calculating premiums for automotive and marine vehicle insurance. This practice has been explicitly legal in Michigan since 1997, and has been a matter of administrative, legislative, and legal scrutiny since at least 2002. For the purpose of research on this subject, here is a list of relevant articles and documents affecting the court's decision:

• Brief opinion article by Michigan State Representative Dian Slavens (D-Canton)
• Michigan Insurance Code (1956) — The legal basis for insurance practice in the state
• MCL 500.2110a (1997) — Law first allowing credit scores to be used for insurance calculation
• Commissioner's Report on the Use of Insurance Credit Scoring in Automobile and Homeowners Insurance (2002) — Initial investigation and basis for policy and judicial reference
• Executive policy as legislatively enacted; basis for the lawsuits
• Briefs relating to the supreme court trial
  
• Decision from the Court of Appeals
• Opinion from the Michigan Supreme Court
• Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation

Our system of government is fascinating and complex. Here at Canton Public Library we have resources for understanding democracy and the law. Come in today to use our law reference collection. What do you think about this Michigan Supreme Court decision?