First Wave of Lawsuits to Litigate Michigan's Dam Catastrophe

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.

1 minute read

May 27, 2020, 12:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Michigan

Tyler Dittenbir / Shutterstock

"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?"

Tuesday, May 26, 2020 in Detroit Free Press

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 11, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Rendering of Shirley Chisholm Village four-story housing development with person biking in front.

San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning

SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.

June 8, 2025 - Fast Company

Yellow single-seat Japanese electric vehicle drivign down road.

The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs

The single seat Mibot charges from a regular plug as quickly as an iPad, and is about half the price of an average EV.

June 6, 2025 - PC Magazine

People riding bicycles on separated bike trail.

With Protected Lanes, 460% More People Commute by Bike

For those needing more ammo, more data proving what we already knew is here.

1 hour ago - UNM News

Bird's eye view of half-circle suburban street with large homes.

In More Metros Than You’d Think, Suburbs are Now More Expensive Than the City

If you're moving to the burbs to save on square footage, data shows you should think again.

3 hours ago - Investopedia

Color-coded map of labor & delivery departments and losses in United States.

The States Losing Rural Delivery Rooms at an Alarming Pace

In some states, as few as 9% of rural hospitals still deliver babies. As a result, rising pre-term births, no adequate pre-term care and "harrowing" close calls are a growing reality.

June 15 - Maine Morning Star