After a series of failures last week sent flood waters spilling into Midland County, Michigan, property owners in the area are filing class action lawsuits to recoup their losses.
"A week after devastating flooding in mid-Michigan, four homeowners filed a new class-action lawsuit, this one against Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy claiming mismanagement of the Edenville dam," reports Frank Witsil.
The class action lawsuit follows news of two additional class action lawsuits, reported by Witsil and Miriam Marini: "Midland property owners are seeking compensation in class-action lawsuits filed in federal court in Detroit against Boyce Hydro, the owners and operators of the Edenville and Sanford dams."
The news of the lawsuits come less than a week after dam failures flooded properties in Michigan and sent residents scrambling for higher ground.
Witsil sums up the stakes of the lawsuits: "All three lawsuits spotlight an issue in which controversy is certain to rise, long after the record floodwaters have receded: The potential danger and likelihood of a dam failure was known by the dam owner, government regulators and local residents. So who is to blame? And who should pay damages?"
FULL STORY: New flood lawsuit claims Michigan mismanaged dam
Climate Change in Action: Massive Storms, Dam Failures
The dam failures that sent residents of Michigan scrambling last week can be connected to the extreme weather events created by climate change, according to experts.
Dams Break in Michigan: Nation's Crumbling Infrastructure Takes Center Stage Again
Reports of catastrophic infrastructure failure today in Michigan, a state already facing some of the worst consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The U.S. of Breaking and Broken Dams
New analysis of high-hazard dams reveals the ubiquity, and risks, of the infrastructure challenges facing the United States.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Planning for Accessibility: Proximity is More Important than Mobility
Accessibility-based planning minimizes the distance that people must travel to reach desired services and activities. Measured this way, increased density can provide more total benefits than increased speeds.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
Eviction Looms for Low-Income Tenants as Rent Debt Rises
Nonprofit housing operators across the country face almost $10 billion in rent debt.
Brightline West Breaks Ground
The high-speed rail line will link Las Vegas and the Los Angeles area.
Colorado Bans No-Fault Evictions
In most cases, landlords must provide a just cause for evicting tenants.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
