April 2026 BOMA BRIEFS
News and Views for CRE
In This Issue:
NEW BOMADET.ORG
SAVE THE DATES ·May 1 BOMA Trade Fair . May 15 CRE Day th
·June 15 Spring Golf Classic ·July 28 Summer Island Party
Welcome New Members Government Affairs Committee BOMA / BOMI
BOMA Briefs Sponsors
Latest Updates in BOMA
April 2026
From the BAE
BOMA Members,
It took a while, but spring has finally arrived!
It is with a sinking heart that I revisit the sadness of March. As you more than likely know, BOMA lost one of its biggest supporters and leaders. Brian Salliotte unexpectedly passed away on March 24, 2026. He is a soul that cannot be replaced. For BOMA, he was a Past President and was the current Governor representing us at BOMA International. For many of you he was a brother, a friend…, a mentor. Words cannot express the feeling of loss. The Trade Fair was one of Brian’s favorite events. Check out the video of last year’s Trade Fair Circus and you will see some great family photos! Registration is open for the May 1, 2026 Trade Fair. It will be a Super event with over 60 vendors displaying their services and products. It is THE place to BE.., and it’s free for anyone involved in the Commercial Real Estate industry.
The Spring Golf Classic sells out every year. Registration is now open. Don’t hesitate! And.., purchase your Drone Drop Golf Ball today. Sponsored by Premier Paving, this fun event takes place at the conclusion of the day with a massive drone that drops golf balls on the green. If your ball goes in the cup first, you win $1000! If no balls go into the cup, the closest to the pin wins! You do not need to be present to win, but you do have to purchase a ball at $10 each. We are excited that our new fully integrated website is now up and running. It is your one stop shop for all things BOMA. Visit often as we continuously make improvements and add features and functionality. BOMA Metro Detroit is busier then its ever been and Rachel and I want to thank all of our awesome member volunteers. A special shout out to the Emerging Professional chairs Amanda Bastien and Jahmar Rashad, leaders Thomas White, Nicholas Ferris for putting together another awesome networking event on April 2nd. They started with a panel at Urban Tech Exchange, went on a tour to the new Hudsons Building and ended with a happy hour at Gillys. You can check out the photos here. The Membership committee continues to reach out to our new members, the Allied Supplier committee is raring to go to help out with the upcoming events and our government affairs committee is quietly doing some heavy lifts that benefit each and every business within the organization. And our board of directors is doing a phenomenal job setting the priorities and leading the way. We have and will continue to improve every day – for you, our members.
Thank you for all that you do.
Creating meaningful engagement opportunities requires individuals willing to step up, lead, and invest their time and expertise for the benefit of all. BOMA Metro Detroit is truly blessed to have dedicated, effective leaders who understand that collaboration, service, and shared responsibility are the foundation of a successful organization. Together, we don’t just participate, we build, support and elevate one another..., and we are present for each other in times of need. Rachel and I are thankful for all of you.
In loving memory of Brian Salliotte. “Your life was a blessing, your memory a treasure. You are loved beyond words and missed beyond measure.”
BOMA SPRING CLASSIC DRONE DROP Purchase your numbered golf balls at BOMADet.org today and you could win $1000! Need not be present to win.
Sponsored by Premier Paving
New Members
Aaron Thomas- UWM Austin Larimer- UWM
Cayla Lusky- Health Care Realty Saulo Prado- Health Care Realty
Brought to you by:
BOMA Metro Detroit Government Affairs Committee
This committee continues to work to protect the interests of all BOMA Metro Detroit members. Recent victories include stopping added taxation to business. Our fight right now, is to get common sense legislation enacted to stop the senseless lawsuits that increase business owners insurance rates and legal expense. Over the past several months we have been active in supporting MI House Bill 4582. We helped it pass through the House Judiciary Committee and then the Michigan House. The task before us is to get it passed through the Michigan Senate. This will not be an easy task. Be on the lookout for a future communication with instructions on how you can help. And no, we are not asking for money, just experiences, because BOMA Metro Detroit is working for you!
MI Chamber Tax, Policy and Economic Competitiveness Committee BOMA Metro Detroit Representatives:
Trey Brice, Taft Law Bill Gilbert, REDICO
Rick Troy, BOMA Metro Detroit Trevor Duke, Thomas Duke Co. John Sier, Kitch
MI Chamber Energy and Environmental Committee BOMA Metro Detroit Representatives: Dan Fitzgerald, Parajan
Rick Troy, BOMA Metro Detroit Trevor Duke, Thomas Duke Co. John Sier, Kitch
MI Chamber Health, Human Resources & Talent Committee BOMA Metro Detroit Representatives: Joe Mifsud, Oxford Companies Eric VanMeerbeeck, MarbleLife/GroutMaster
Rick Troy, BOMA Metro Detroit Trevor Duke, Thomas Duke Co. John Sier, Kitch
Open and Obvious: The Case to Restore Property Owner Protections
The Problem
In2023, theMichigan Supreme Court overturned the longstanding "open and obvious" defense in premises liability cases. Michigan is now one of just nine states without this safeguard — a national outlier. The result: more litigation exposure, greater uncertainty and higher costs for property owners of every size.
Definition
The " open and obvious" doctrine was a longstanding premises liability protection for hazards on properties deemed “open and obvious” to the average person, like a slippery patch of ice on a sidewalk or a pothole in the parking lot. This standard protected Michigan from courtroom backlogs, and discouraged frivolous lawsuits against property owners.
The Solution
Restorereasonable protections that curb lawsuit abuse while preserving fair recourse for people truly harmed by negligence. The Michigan Alliance for Legal Reform supports efforts to reinstate key elements of open and obvious and return balance and predictability to Michigan’s legal system.
House Bill 4582 is a needed step — delivering protections for property owners while keeping legitimate claims intact.
How does open and obvious impact me if I don't own property? Without an open and obvious safeguard, Michigan employers face higher liability and insurance costs — forcing tough trade-offs like fewer jobs, delayed investments or higher prices. Property owners face the same squeeze, with costs often passed on to renters and commercial tenants. Do other states have open and obvious property protections? 41 states retain some form of open and obvious safeguards in premises liability. Michigan is among just nine without it — making our state a national outlier and magnet for frivolous lawsuits.
Business Community Supports HB 4582, Urges Additional Changes to Premises Liability
On behalf of a broad coalition of Michigan job providers, we write to express our deep concern with the current state of Michigan’s premises liability law and urge legislative action to restore fairness and predictability for residential, commercial and industrial property owners. In 2023, the Michigan Supreme Court overturned Michigan’s longstanding open and obvious doctrine, marking a major shift in Michigan’s premises liability law. For more than two decades, Michigan’s open and obvious standard protected property owners from liability when a hazard was “open and obvious.” This standard deterred frivolous lawsuits and provided stability for property owners. With the Court’s elimination of this doctrine, property owners can now be held liable—and sued—no matter how obvious a hazard might be to a reasonable person. Judges must instead conduct a full fault analysis in every case, creating new and costly legal hazards for Michigan property owners. Other impacts: More lawsuits – The Court’s 2023 ruling paves the way for nearly every “slip-and-fall” claim to proceed, fueling more filings and driving up litigation.
Higher costs – More claims and lawsuits are driving up expenses for property owners, pushing premiums higher at a time when families and business are already stretched thin by workforce issues and economic pressures. More uncertainty – This new standard creates uncertainty for property owners and exposes them to risk even when a hazard is obvious to a reasonable person. This risk is heightened for high traic businesses like hospitals and restaurants, and for small businesses who do not have access to sophisticated compliance and legal teams.
For Michigan’s property owners, this is not just an abstract legal debate. Left unaddressed, Michigan will quickly become a national outlier for costly premise liability litigation. Other states who have abandoned consistent liability standards have seen sharp increases in insurance costs firsthand, leading many of them to backtrack. We hope Michigan’s lawmakers address this issue now before it spirals out of control, as it has elsewhere. We thank Representative Neyer for introducing House Bill 4582 and Chair Lightner for holding discussion on this vital issue. We look forward to engaging further in this conversation to ensure that Michigan law properly addresses the shortcomings of current law.
The Real Property Administrator (RPA®) Designation program is designed for assistant property managers, property managers, and those who manage real estate assets. The RPA® Designation positions property managers for success by providing insight into and knowledge of operating a commercial building. Upon successful completion, professionals will be able to: Understand the diverse aspects of property management Maximize a building’s net income and minimize risks reduce costs. Enhance your standing in the industry - In the RPA® program, you’ll learn how to enhance the value of a building through proper and strategic decision making—from design and operation to maintenance of an office building. Professionals will become fully versed in budgeting and accounting for commercial real estate, risk management, and best practices in bidding. The RPA® program also covers reviewing and selecting contract providers, marketing and leasing the building, and operating the asset from an owner’s perspective through a comprehensive asset management component.
Real Property Administrator (RPA®) Required Courses:
Budget and Accounting Ethics is Good Business
Design, Operation & Maintenance of Building Systems 1 Design, Operation & Maintenance of Building Systems 2 Environmental Health and Safety Law and Risk Management Real Estate Investment and Finance
Elective ( minimum one ) Asset Management
Managing the Organization Leasing and Marketing for Property Managers
January 2026 Budget and Accounting Class
Thank you for being a part of BOMA Metro Detroit.
Your membership matters. Your engagement makes a difference, and your support drives our success.
We are grateful for each and every one of you.
Your BOMA Team, Rick and Rachel
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