Overview

A member of the Commercial Litigation Practice Group, Chuck concentrates his law practice almost exclusively in environmental and First Amendment and media law matters. His clients include municipalities, companies and individuals as he assists them with:

• Environmental Law: Litigation; air, water, waste, natural resource permitting and approval; air, water, soil, ground water, surface water, natural resource, right to know regulatory compliance, negotiation of contracts, insurance, review of due diligence for transactions, investigation and cleanup of contaminated sites, sewer authorities, and recycling.
• First Amendment and Media Law: Libel litigation; Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests and issues, Open Meetings Act issues, subpoenas, news gathering issues, courtroom access issues and access to court record issues.
• General Litigation and Appellate Work: Insurance defense, commercial litigation, defense of claims brought by United States and State units and defense of municipalities.

Chuck is a frequent author on environmental and first amendment issues and was recognized as an outstanding writer early in his professional career when he was articles editor for the Indiana Law Review. Chuck has authored numerous articles of interest for legal and trade publications throughout Michigan.

He has always been involved with professional and community affairs. He has served as section chair for the Environmental Law Section of the Michigan State Bar, is very active in the American Inns of Court at Michigan State University College of Law as well as serving many roles for the Ingham County Bar Association and the Ingham County Bar Foundation. 

Honors & Recognitions

Affiliations

Memberships & Affiliations

Legal Affiliations:

• Litigation Counsel of America, fellow 
• Defense Research Institute
• American Inns of Court, MSU College of Law, Special Master
  • Past President, 2017-2019
• State Bar of Michigan, Environmental Law Section
  • Council member, 2000-2006
  • Secretary-treasurer, 2006-2007
  • Chair elect, 2007-2008
  • Chair, 2008-2009
• Michigan State Bar Foundation fellow
• Ingham County Bar Association
  • Past Board President
  • Past Board Member
  • Past Chairman, Environmental Law Section
• Ingham County Bar Foundation
  • Board Member

Industry & Professional Associations:

• Water Environment Federation
• Michigan Oil and Gas Association, Environmental Affairs Committee, Past Member

Community Involvement:

• Peoples Church, East Lansing
• Boy Scouts of America, Troop 125, Okemos, Past Scoutmaster, 2003-2008
• DePauw University Alumni Board, Member of Admissions Committee, 2012-2018

Experience

Representative Matters

• In a unanimous opinion issued April 13, 2023, the Michigan Court of Appeals held in favor of the City of East Lansing in a class-action lawsuit related to electric franchise fees. Heos v City of East Lansing, Court of Appeals Case Nos. 361105, 361138. The Court of Appeals reversed earlier decisions of the Ingham County Circuit Court, which had granted summary disposition to plaintiff James Heos and other similarly situated Board of Water and Light customers. The Court of Appeals directed the circuit court to instead enter summary disposition in favor of the City on remand.
  
  In reaching this decision, the Court of Appeals held that plaintiff’s claim under the Headlee Amendment to the Michigan Constitution and his similar equitable claims were untimely because they were not filed within one year after the franchise ordinance was adopted. The Court of Appeals further held that plaintiff could not bring an action under the 1905 Foote Act because the Foote Act only applies to electric utility providers, not electric customers. Consequently, the City was entitled to dismissal of all of plaintiff’s claims. The opinion is available online here: https://www.courts.michigan.gov/497287/siteassets/case-documents/uploads/opinions/final/coa/20230413_c361105_34_361105.opn.pdf. 
• Represented manufacturer in the defense against a subrogation claim and prosecution of a separate counterclaim relating to a fire resulting in nearly $100 million in damages.
• Assisted trade organization in drafting and offering testimony on beneficial use reform legislation.
• Assisted a development company in acquiring a 600,000 square foot building and nearby properties that was later used for new manufacturing. Assisted in minimizing the liability for environmental issues, securing Brownfield reimbursement for environmental expenses and carrying out corrective action activities.
• Provided counsel to a public authority in acquisition of additional sewer capacity and participated in expansion of existing sewer facility that cost more than $100 million. Negotiated related agreements.
• Successfully argued in Michigan Supreme Court that residents surrounding former solvent distribution business could not bring property damage claims merely because they lived in the vicinity of the business unless their properties were actually contaminated.
• Obtained directed verdict in a libel suit against a news columnist who reported about a local service firm that charged excessive fees. Successfully defended appeal.

Communications

Publications

• Michigan Appeals Court Rules Invalid New Environmental Regulations, Foster Swift Agricultural Law News, September 5, 2023
• Bio-Digesters: A New solution for a New Era, Foster Swift Agricultural Law News, September 17, 2021
• Pollutant Discharges to Groundwater May Fall Within the Clean Water Act, Foster Swift Agricultural Law News, June 10, 2020
• Legislature Passes Significant Changes to Environmental Remediation Statute, Foster Swift Commercial Litigation News, February 16, 2015
• Michigan Court of Appeals holds owner and operator of an underground storage tank liable, Foster Swift Commercial Litigation News, September 10, 2014
• Michigan Legislature Introduces Beneficial Use Reforms, Foster Swift Commercial Litigation News, April 25, 2014

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News & Events

Speaking Engagements

• Environmental Compliance Essentials, Michigan Manufacturers Association, November 20, 2014

News

• Barbieri Honored with ICBA Lifetime Achievement Award, Ingham County Legal News, September 23, 2024
• Foster Swift Attorneys Named 2025 Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers in America, August 15, 2024
• 17 Attorneys Selected to 2024 Michigan Super Lawyers and “Rising Stars”, Michigan Super Lawyers, August 12, 2024
• Foster Swift Attorneys Named 2024 Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers in America, August 17, 2023
• 17 Attorneys Selected to 2023 Michigan Super Lawyers and “Rising Stars”, Michigan Super Lawyers, August 11, 2023
• City of East Lansing Prevails in Electric Franchise Fee Appeal, April 14, 2023
• New Video Series Discusses Legal Issues for the Michigan Farmer, Foster Swift Agricultural Law News, October 6, 2022