State of Michigan v Schaefer, 471 Mich 923; 689 NW2d 230 (2004)
SC: 126067
Michigan Supreme Court
471 Mich 923; 689 NW2d 230
November 29, 2004, Decided
Prior case history: COA: 245175. Wayne Circuit Court Case No.: 02-004291. People v Schaefer (Mich Ct App, Mar. 25, 2004)
OPINION
On order of the Court, the application for leave to appeal the March 25, 2004 judgment of the Court of Appeals is considered, and it is GRANTED. The parties are directed to include among the issues to be briefed: (1) whether the "substantial" cause language in People v Lardie, 452 Mich 231; 551 NW2d 656 (1995), is consistent with the statute; (2) whether MCL 257.625(4)'s requirement that the prosecutor establish that the defendant's "operation of that motor vehicle causes the death of another person" requires the prosecutor to establish that the defendant's operation of the motor vehicle was affected by his intoxicated state; (3) whether the statute obligates the prosecutor to show that the defendant's driving at the time of the accident was a proximate cause of another person's death; (4) whether it is sufficient that the prosecutor establish only that the defendant decided to drive while intoxicated, and that a death resulted; and (5) if so, whether the statute violates the equal protection clause of the Michigan Constitution, Const 1963, art 1, § 2, or the equal protection clause of the federal Constitution Am XIV, , or is otherwise unconstitutional.
We further ORDER that this case be argued and submitted to the Court together with the case of People v Large (Docket No. 127142), at such future session of the Court as both cases are ready for submission.