When the Edenville Dam failed on May 19, 2020, causing the overflow and flooding of water over the Sanford Dam, thousands of residents and property owners in Midland County and Gladwin County suffered losses.
If you sustained losses in this catastrophic event, consider joining plaintiffs who are fighting for their right to receive compensation from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), the dam operator, and other parties.
By filing a claim now, you can protect yourself from further damage by an injury you suffered as a result of EGLE’s negligence. Our firm does not shy away from tough cases—like those against state agencies and large corporations. We will fight on your behalf and demand that the parties responsible for your damages compensate you for your losses. You pay us nothing out of pocket and nothing up front. Our firm will take its legal fee from your settlement if and when we win your case.
A Midland dam break lawsuit lawyer from Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can begin preparing your case. Call us today for a no-obligation consultation. (800) 794-0444.
A Clear Case of Negligence
A clear connection of truths satisfies the legal requirements for a case of negligence that makes more than one party potentially liable for the damages resulting from the events of May 19.
The dam’s previous operator, Boyce Hydro Power LLC, failed in its management and upkeep of the dam for many years before their license for hydro power generation was revoked and the state assumed control of dam operations in 2018. The failing structural integrity of the dam’s infrastructure caused it to give way after several days of heavy rain, and the crippled dam unleashed most of Wixom Lake’s 1,980 acres of water into the Tittabawassee River, which overflowed its banks.
On the other hand, the State of Michigan entrusts EGLE with a single mission: “to protect Michigan’s environment and public health by managing air, water, land, and energy resources.” The agency thus owed a duty of care to the people of Michigan, one that they failed to uphold. This breach of duty caused the Edenville dam to fail, resulting in damages to the people of Midland County and Gladwin County.
Breach of Duty on the Part of Multiple Parties
Officials from the State of Michigan conceded that the infrastructure of the nearly century-old dam suffered from years of neglect, according to Detroit News. Another publication, Detroit Free Press, reported that for decades, federal regulators ordered changes to the design of the dam, but the state neglected to conduct the repairs of concern.
EGLE took over operations of the Edenville Dam in October 2018 after the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) revoked dam operator Boyce Hydro Power LLC’s hydropower generation license, due to its failure to meet federal standards. The FERC’s revocation letter specifically refers to Boyce Hydro Power’s “longstanding failure” to bolster the dam’s spillway capacity to safely pass flood flows.
A little over a month following this revocation, the Department of Environmental Quality inspected the dam, ultimately filing a report that stated the dam was in “fair structural condition.”
Further exacerbating the outcome of May’s heavy rains, EGLE approved raising the water levels of Wixom Lake by eight feet—an effort completed on May 3, only weeks before the dam’s failure.
It may prove worthwhile to monitor any aftermath of flood waters’ comingling with contaminant ponds at Dow’s Midland chemical plant, as reported on May 20 by the Detroit Free Press. Dow reported that no product was released, and the people of Midland were, therefore, not under any threat from contaminants.
A Midland dam break lawsuit lawyer from Pintas & Mullins Law Firm is ready to take legal action on behalf of individuals who suffered losses from the negligence that caused Edenville Dam’s failure. Call us today for a free consultation.
Lawsuits Center on Dam Operator and State Agencies
Multiple parties may bear liability for losses related to the Midland dam failure:
- Dam operator EGLE
- Previous dam operator Boyce Hydro Power
- Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Other parties may bear liability too, so speak with a dam failure attorney for help with your case. The basis for these lawsuits is the failure to properly care for, operate, and perform necessary repairs, leading to the dam’s failure and resulting in injury and loss.
A Midland Dam Break Lawsuit Lawyer Can Help You
When the State of Michigan, the Edenville Dam operator, and its owner failed to maintain a 96-year-old dam to keep local area residents safe, they caused significant damages to the people they were duty-bound to protect. More than 10,000 people left their homes in response to evacuation orders. They huddled together in shelters—a situation that exceeded inconvenience and bordered on unsafe during a pandemic.
Parties involved possessed the means and the opportunity to prevent this catastrophe and all the losses resulting from it. They shirked their duties to the public in the interest of money, and now they owe the people whose lives are uprooted as a result of this greed.
If you suffered losses from the Midland Dam break, you are entitled to receive compensation to help you cover the heavy costs of your losses.
The legal team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can fight for your right to recover your losses. Call us today at (800) 794-0444 for a free consultation.