General Motors' fraudulent inducement claim dismissed

In one of its last pronouncements as a majority of the Michigan Supreme Court, the Engler "gang of four" dismissed a fraud claim brought by General Motors against a company that had purchased trucks at a discount on the promise that it would modify them prior to sale.  The majority, relying on Justice Taylor's presence for a few more days on the bench, rejected General Motors' fraud claim because it was "inextricably  interwoven" with the plaintiff's contract claim.  Unlike the courts in most states, the "gang of four" has held that an aggrieved party with a contract cause of action cannot sue for wrongdoing that arises within or as a result of the contract relationship.