Mich. Comp. Laws § § 600.5750
Summary proceedings not exclusive of other remedies; merging or barring of claims; damages.
Operative Text
Sec. 5750. The remedy provided by summary proceedings is in addition to, and not exclusive of, other remedies, either legal, equitable or statutory. A judgment for possession under this chapter does not merge or bar any other claim for relief, except that a judgment for possession after forfeiture of an executory contract for the purchase of premises shall merge and bar any claim for money payments due or in arrears under the contract at the time of trial and that a judgment for possession after forfeiture of such an executory contract which results in the issuance of a writ of restitution shall also bar any claim for money payments which would have become due under the contract subsequent to the time of issuance of the writ. The plaintiff obtaining a judgment for possession of any premises under this chapter is entitled to a civil action against the defendant for damages from the time of forcible entry or detainer, or trespass, or of the notice of forfeiture, notice to quit or demand for possession, as the case may be.
Michigan's MCL § 600.5701 et seq. § 600.5750 establishes that summary proceedings — the expedited court process used to recover possession of property — do not replace or eliminate other legal remedies available to either party. A court judgment granting possession generally does not extinguish separate claims for money or other relief, though there is a notable exception: when a land contract (executory contract for purchase) is forfeited, certain money claims that were due or that would have come due may be merged into and barred by the possession judgment. Additionally, the party who wins a possession judgment retains the right to pursue a separate civil action for damages covering the period from the triggering event — such as a forcible entry, a notice of forfeiture, or a notice to quit — onward.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under MCL § 600.5701 et seq. § 600.5750, property owners and managers who obtain a judgment for possession are not limited to that remedy alone — they may also pursue a separate civil action for damages arising from the period beginning with the forcible entry, detainer, trespass, or the relevant notice. Compliant operators typically keep clear records of the dates notices were served and any financial losses incurred from that point forward, as those records support a subsequent damages claim. Landlords dealing with land contract forfeitures should be aware that the merger rule in § 600.5750 can affect which money claims survive a possession judgment, making careful documentation of all amounts owed before trial particularly important.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
MCL § 600.5701 et seq. § 600.5750 means that a court ruling against a tenant in a summary possession proceeding does not automatically resolve every other legal claim that may exist between the parties — the landlord may still bring a separate civil action for damages. Tenants should understand that any defenses or counterclaims they have may need to be raised appropriately within the proceedings, and that the outcome of a possession case does not necessarily end the legal matter. Tenants facing summary proceedings or a subsequent damages action may benefit from contacting a local tenant-rights organization or legal aid office to understand how § 600.5750's preservation of remedies and the merger exceptions could affect their situation.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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