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Media Liability in Michigan

For Michigan media work, preserve complaint dates and a correction-response record: the state sets a one-year period for libel and slander, and its retraction rule concerns punitive damages in libel actions rather than guaranteeing immunity. 1,2

What Is Media Liability?

Media liability can help pay defense costs for claims about content you create or distribute, such as allegations of defamation or infringement. Consider it if you publish or produce content for your business or clients; match the quote to each activity. Read the national Media liability guide.

What to Watch for in Michigan

  • Keep dates for each publication and later demand

    Michigan’s limitations statute sets one year for an action charging libel or slander, measured after the claim first accrued. A fresh complaint or policy notice date is not a substitute for identifying the publication and accrual facts. 1

  • A retraction request changes punitive-damage issues

    Before punitive or exemplary damages may be recovered in a libel action, § 600.2911(2)(b) requires notice requesting a retraction and a reasonable time to respond. It prescribes different matching methods for radio or television broadcasts, print publications, and other libel; it does not bar the underlying action. 2

  • Retain the correction trail and version history

    The statute makes proof of a publication or correction admissible on good faith and mitigation of punitive or exemplary damages. Keep the original item, edits, request, response, and distribution record; ask whether the policy requires insurer consent before a correction. 2

  • Keep source records for a fair-report defense

    Michigan also bars damages for a libel action over a fair and true report of public records, an official proceeding, specified government material, or an act of a public body, including a fair-and-true headline. The privilege does not cover material added by someone involved in publication or other statements outside what was part of the proceeding or public record. Preserve the underlying source and verify what the report included. 2

Who Regulates Insurance in Michigan

Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services

The Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services licenses agents, agencies and companies, supervises insurance business, and helps resolve complaints. You can use its state lookup or complaint service to check a license or raise an insurance issue. 3,4,5

Surplus-lines tax and stamping office

Reported tax rate: 2.5% combined surplus-lines tax and regulatory fee on premium when Michigan is the insured's home state Michigan's Property and Casualty Guaranty Association is funded by insurers authorized to transact in the state; an insurer procured solely under Chapter 19 is expressly not considered authorized for that chapter. The surplus-lines policy must carry a notice that the insurer is not Michigan-licensed and insolvency claim payment may not be guaranteed. 6,7,8

Providers With Documented State Licenses

These providers publish a national listing for Media liability; the state records document licenses for the entities and roles shown below. Some records rely on company-reported information rather than independent regulator verification. A national listing does not confirm the product is available in Michigan. Check the regulator’s license lookup and confirm state availability for your business when requesting a quote.

  • CoalitionCoalition Insurance Solutions, Inc.Insurance producer, Surplus-lines broker · checked 2026-09-28Coalition’s license page lists producer and surplus-lines licenses for Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc. in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The page separately lists insurers; this record covers the brokerage entity only. 10
  • CorgiCorgi Insurance Services, Inc.Insurance producer · checked 2026-09-28Corgi’s company producer-license table lists 50 jurisdictions: 49 states and the District of Columbia, including DC license 3003091619. New Mexico does not appear in the table and is not included here; the omission does not establish that Corgi is unlicensed there. The company-reported table has no stated as-of date and does not establish product availability. 11

Questions to Ask Before You Buy in Michigan

  1. Which policy definition of a claim applies to a written demand, subpoena, or suit?
  2. Who selects counsel, and do defense expenses reduce the media limit?
  3. Which content activities, formats, platforms, and client work are scheduled or excluded?

Media Liability in Michigan: FAQ

Does publishing a correction end a Michigan libel claim? 2

No. The statute addresses punitive and exemplary damages, good faith, and mitigation. It does not say that a correction eliminates the claim or determines insurance coverage. 2

Must a correction use the same format as the original? 2

For the retraction rule, Michigan specifies the same manner and time of day for radio or television, comparable size, editions, and practicable position for print, and a substantially similar manner for other libel. 2

Media Liability in Other States

Other Coverage in Michigan

Sources

  1. Michigan Compiled Laws § 600.5805. Michigan Legislature; Subsection (11): one year for libel or slander; current PDF states Michigan Compiled Laws complete through PA 103 of 2026, rendered 2026-09-25. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  2. Michigan Compiled Laws § 600.2911. Michigan Legislature; Subsections (2)(a)–(b): actual damages, pre-action notice/retraction and format rules; subsection (3): fair-report rule and exception for added matter or statements outside the proceeding; current MCL complete through PA 103 of 2026. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  3. Department of Insurance and Financial Services. Department of Insurance and Financial Services; Official regulator and insurance oversight. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  4. Insurance License Lookup. Department of Insurance and Financial Services; State-designated producer/company search. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  5. File an Insurance Complaint. Department of Insurance and Financial Services; State complaint process and contact. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  6. Surplus Lines Licensee: Filing the Surplus Lines Taxes. Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services; DIFS current filing page: Michigan-home-state placements taxed at 2.5% combined tax and regulatory fee; separate fees charged to insured are not included in premium tax base. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  7. Michigan Insurance Code, Chapter 500. Michigan Legislature; MCL 500.7911(1)-(2), 500.7921(b): association membership tied to insurer authorized to transact; insurer procured solely under Chapter 19 is expressly not authorized for guaranty chapter. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  8. Michigan Insurance Code, Chapter 500. Michigan Legislature; MCL 500.1922 requires policy notice that insurer is not Michigan-licensed and insolvency claim payment may not be guaranteed. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  9. Licenses. At-Bay; Current producer introduction and state table; At-Bay Insurance Services LLC; P&C and surplus-lines identifiers. Accessed 2026-09-21.
  10. Licenses and Carriers. Coalition; Licenses and Carriers, re-read 22 September 2026: Insurance Licenses table for Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc., national producer number 18419475, with producer and surplus-lines numbers for all 50 states and DC including California 0L76155, Georgia 196479, Texas 2199630 and 2205589, Pennsylvania 815731 and 817452, Colorado 539028 and Wisconsin 3000108852. Insurance Carriers table naming, with NAIC numbers, Allianz Underwriters Insurance Company 36420, Arch Specialty Insurance Company 21199, Ascot Specialty Insurance Company 45055, Ascot Insurance Company 23752, Aspen Specialty Insurance Company 10717, Chaucer Insurance Company DAC, Coalition Insurance Company 29530, Fireman's Fund Indemnity Corporation 11380, Fortegra Specialty Insurance Company 16823, Lloyd's of London, MSIG Specialty Insurance USA Inc. 34886, MS Transverse Specialty Insurance Company 41807, Steadfast Insurance Company 26387, Vantage Risk Specialty Insurance Company 16275 and Zurich American Insurance Company 16535. Accessed 2026-09-22.
  11. Insurance Producer Licenses. Corgi Insurance; Current complete Insurance Producer Licenses table for Corgi Insurance Services, Inc.; 50 rows covering 49 states and DC (DC 3003091619); no New Mexico row; no NPN or as-of date shown. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  12. About Hiscox US Insurance. Hiscox; Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. NAIC 10200 as Chicago, IL domiciled insurer admitted or licensed in all 50 states and D.C.; Hiscox Inc. as general agent and Lloyd’s coverholder for Syndicates 33 and 3624; surplus-lines placements through licensed surplus-lines brokers; A.M. Best rating statement. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  13. Licenses. ERGO NEXT Insurance; Current entity-by-state license table reopened 28 September 2026: 50 rows under Next First Insurance Agency, Inc., including Washington, DC; New York rows instead list Next Insurance Services PC-1423070 and AP Intego BR-1198885. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  14. Insurance Licenses by State. TechInsurance; Current state table; identifies TechInsurance as a division of Specialty Program Group LLC d/b/a SPG Insurance Solutions; lists DC 3000041536 and labels Rhode Island “Individual licenses,” without an agency license number. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  15. Licenses. Vouch; Effective 16 January 2025: Vouch Specialty Insurance Services, LLC, NPN 19926463; P&C table (50 states and DC); surplus-lines table includes Idaho 870820; footnote says Georgia and Idaho do not issue agency-level surplus-lines licenses; Idaho retained as producer-only due to conflict. Accessed 2026-09-15.

Updated .

This guide is informational and does not determine whether a policy is available or meets your needs. Editorial policy. To suggest a correction, contact Spot with a supporting source.

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