Mich. Comp. Laws § § 600.5747
Judgment for defendant for costs.
Operative Text
Sec. 5747. If the plaintiff fails to prosecute his complaint, or if upon trial or motion the plaintiff is found not entitled to possession of the premises, judgment shall be rendered for the defendant for his costs, which shall be taxed and collected in the same manner as other civil judgments for money in the same court.
Under MCL § 600.5747, when a landlord (plaintiff) brings a possession action and either abandons the case or is found by the court not to have a right to possession, the court must enter a judgment in the tenant's (defendant's) favor that includes an award of costs. Those costs are then calculated and collected using the same procedures that apply to any other civil money judgment in that court.
Plain English — not legal advice.
MCL § 600.5747 means that a landlord who initiates an eviction or possession proceeding takes on real financial exposure if the case is not pursued to completion or if the court determines the landlord was not entitled to possession. Operators who manage eviction filings carefully — ensuring claims are well-founded before filing and following through on cases once started — are generally better positioned to avoid a cost judgment being entered against them. Abandoning a complaint mid-proceeding or proceeding on a legally insufficient basis can result in the court awarding the tenant's costs, collectible like any civil money judgment.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
MCL § 600.5747 gives tenants who successfully defend a possession action — or whose landlord drops the case — the right to a court judgment for their costs. If a court finds the landlord was not entitled to possession, or if the landlord fails to prosecute the complaint, tenants can ask the court to tax and award those costs under this provision. Tenants facing eviction proceedings may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid office to understand how this cost-recovery right might apply to their circumstances.
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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