Four homeowners in Midland County have filed a class action lawsuit against the state alleging mismanagement and neglect of the now-failed Edenville Dam.
Related: Video shows moment Edenville Dam breaches in Midland County
The 28-page lawsuit was filed in the state Court of Claims by residents who own adjacent properties on the banks of the Tittabawassee River less than a mile south of the Edenville Dam. It was filed against the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy.
The lawsuit seeks damages for the massive flood which caused damage to their homes, boats, docks, canopies and more, according to the lawyers.
Related: Feds revoked license for Edenville Dam in 2018 worried it couldn't handle large floods
“For decades, federal regulators had demanded changes to the design of the Edenville Dam to improve its ability to withstand flooding, and federal regulators had warned since at least 1993 that the dam failed to meet safety requirements,” the complaint reads.
The attorney, Michael Pitt, said that while EGLE doesn't own the dam, the state is responsible for ensuring the safety and structural integrity of all public-use dams.
