Robert is an attorney with 30 years of experience representing landowners, developers, business owners, lenders, municipalities, and individuals throughout Michigan. A dominant portion of his practice is devoted to real estate and land use issues—handling everything from routine residential real estate closings to the purchase or sale of commercial property. He has successfully litigated issues related to the enforcement and interpretation of easements and restrictive covenants, zoning restrictions, actions to quiet or clear title, and foreclosure of mortgages and construction liens. Other areas of experience include representing property owners with property tax appeals, disputes, actions to quiet title, and commercial leasing. Robert represents commercial lenders in real estate transactions involving the preparation and review of loan documents. He has successfully represented clients with land use issues before numerous planning commissions, and boards of zoning appeals.

In addition, Robert represents business owners and entrepreneurs in planning and forming business entities, including closely-held corporations, general partnerships, and limited liability companies. On their behalf, he reviews and drafts business documents and advises concerning the sale or purchase of businesses and business assets. This includes reviewing and/or drafting loan documents and various security devices. He has represented clients before numerous state agencies, including the Barrier-Free Design Board, Michigan State Housing Development Authority, Michigan Tax Tribunal and the State of Michigan Liquor Control Commission.

Finally, as a by product of his volunteer work with the developmentally disabled, Robert continues to enjoy representing families and individuals in the preparation of wills and trusts, with an emphasis on special needs trusts and families with members with developmental disabilities.

Robert is a life-long resident of Traverse City, Michigan, where he lives with his wife and also raised their three children.

Education

• University of Michigan (B.A., cum laude, 1977)
• Wayne State University Law School (J.D., 1980)

Admitted to Practice

• State Bar of Michigan, 1980
• U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan, 1985
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 1987

Presentations

• "Contesting Property Tax Increases," Traverse City Industrial Council, November 2008.
• “Plat and Subdivision Law,” Lorman Education Services, October 2006
• “Easements, Encroachments, Acquiescence and Adverse Possession,” Michigan Land Title Association, April 2003
• “Law of Easements: Legal Issues and Practical Consideration in Michigan,” Lorman Education Seminar, June 2003 and 2006
• “Buying and Selling Vacation Property: What Every Lawyer Should Know,” ICLE February 2002

Client Successes for Robert W. Parker

• 5/1/2010
  Jon Siebers and Robert Parker recently represented a group of landowners in negotiating a form wind lease to be used in a 56-turbine wind project in the northern Lower Peninsula.
• 12/1/2009
  Robert Parker, Jon VanderPloeg, and Scott Harvey successfully represented their client in Taylor v City of Traverse City, in which the Michigan Court of appeals held that the death of a joint-tenant owner of real property was not a "transfer" subjecting the property to property-tax "uncapping." In this case, the father owned a lakeshore residence that he deeded to himself and his daughter in joint tenancy. This conveyance was within the joint tenancy exception to the uncapping statute. But when the father died, leaving his daughter as sole owner, the city took the position that the father's death was a transfer to her, subjecting the property to uncapping. The city then sought to collect taxes at the much higher uncapped rate. The daughter opposed and contended that her father's death was not a transfer subject to uncapping. The Court of Appeals has now agreed with the daughter, and the taxes must be collected at the lower, capped rate.
• 2/1/2008
  Shawn Worden successfully represented our client — Bingham Township — in a land use matter that was on appeal. The case involved a parcel of land that was divided and sold to new owners. A neighboring property owner challenged the land division and the Court ruled that the property was illegally divided and that no land use or building permits could be issued until the illegal division was remedied. The Township worked with the property owners who filed an Application for Special Land Use permit for a clustered housing development. The Township Planning Commission held multiple public hearings and intensely debated the specifics of this plan. They then issued the Special Land Use Permit, allowing for one buildable lot on each of the separate owner's property. However the property owners wanted two buildable lots on their parcels and appealed the decision to the Leelanau County Circuit Court, arguing that the Planning Commission's decision violated the clustered housing development provisions of the zoning ordinance and that the decision was not supported by the record. Shawn wrote the response brief and argued the appeal on behalf of the Township . The Circuit Court sided with our client, finding that the property owner's interpretation of the clustered housing development provisions were not logical and that the record supported the Township's decision. Robert Parker and Todd Millar both worked on this case as well. Todd served as lead litigation attorney.

Smith Haughey Publications

Type	Date	Title
Legal Alert	8/22/2011	Uncertainty Surrounds the Farmland and Open Space Preservation Act
Legal Alert	7/27/2011	Agribusiness Law Update
Legal Alert	3/29/2011	Real Estate & Estate Planning Legal Alert (Mar. 2011)
Legal Alert	11/15/2010	Agri-Business Update (November 2010)
Legal Alert	9/15/2010	Real Estate Law Update (Sept. 2010)
Newsletter	11/6/2008	Legal Ease Fall 2008 Newsletter
Legal Alert	7/23/2008	Construction Law Update (July '08)
Newsletter	3/16/2007	Legal Ease Spring 2007 Newsletter
Legal Alert	11/21/2006	Legal Ease Fall 2006
Newsletter	2/12/2004	Legal Ease Winter 2004
Newsletter	10/1/2003	Legal Ease Fall 2003
Legal Alert	5/1/2003	Toxic Mold Claims
Legal Alert	5/1/2000	A Deadline is a Deadline
Legal Alert	7/1/1999	What is As Is?
Legal Alert	4/1/1999	Divisions Under Michigan's Land Division Act: All or Nothing?

News for Robert W. Parker

6/10/2010
Smith Haughey Helps Fill the ‘Hole’ at the Corner of East Front and Park Streets in Traverse City

1/22/2009
Lewis, Schuknecht, and Keilitz Join Smith Haughey's Traverse City Office

12/17/2008
Board of Directors Elected to Lead Smith Haughey in the New Year

12/20/2007
Board of Directors Elected to Lead Smith Haughey in the New Year

1/8/2007
Board of Directors Elected to Lead Smith Haughey in the New Year

8/2/2004
Wilson Joins Smith Haughey as Of Counsel

6/26/2003
Robert W. Parker Appointed to Great Lakes Community Mental Health Board

1/1/2003
Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge Announces Election Results

1/1/2002
Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge Holds Annual Elections

Professional Affiliations

• American Bar Association (member, sections on: Probate & Property)
• Grand Traverse/Leelanau/Antrim Bar Association
• State Bar of Michigan (member, sections on: Real Property; Probate and Estate Planning)
• Michigan Land Title Association
• Grand Traverse Area Estate Planning Council

Community Affiliations

• Appointed county representative, Northern Lakes Community Mental Health Board
• President, Traverse Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors
• Past Director and Chairperson of the Grand Traverse Commons Redevelopment Corporation, 1991- 1999
• Past Member and Chairperson of the Traverse City Historic Districts Commission
• Approved counsel for Michigan State Housing Development Authority