A federal judge says the former owner of the failed Edenville dam is liable for nearly $120 million in environmental damage.
The Edenville Dam failed more than three years ago and contributed to a devastating flood — that forced 10,000 people to evacuate and damaged or destroyed thousands of homes and businesses in the Midland area.
U.S. District Judge Paul Maloney issued a ruling yesterday that Boyce Hydro, the company that owned the dam, violated Michigan's natural resource and environmental protection law.
The ruling says Lee Mueller, the owner of the now-bankrupt company, is liable for the damage to fisheries and freshwater mussel populations.
Last month, Maloney also sided with the state against Mueller, affirming that he knew the dam was at risk of failure and did not report or repair it.
In a statement, Attorney General Dana Nessel applauded the ruling and said the judgment is a "measure of accountability to the community Mueller devastated" and a cautionary tale to other owners of critical infrastructure.
Editor's note: The attorney representing Mueller could not be immediately reached for comment.
