Court of Appeals Unanimously Reinstates More Than $21 Million Judgment Against the City of Highland Park for its Non-Payment of Water and Sewer Services

DETROIT – The Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) received the Michigan Court of Appeals Opinion dated August 18, 2022, and while we continue our review, given its importance we want to express our pleasure at the depth and clarity of the Court’s reasoning for reinstating the more than $21 million judgment in favor of the City of Detroit (now GLWA) from 2015.

The Court of Appeals held that “the trial court erred when it reopened the case to litigate Highland Park’s counterclaim because the record clearly demonstrates that during the earlier appeal, Highland Park, in order to pursue an appeal as of right, unequivocally abandoned its counterclaim that it was overcharged for water and sewer services.” The Court of Appeals then vacated the Wayne County Circuit Court’s entry of a $1 million judgment in favor of Highland Park on its counterclaim.

“As we have maintained throughout this litigation and the 2020 litigation against the City of Highland Park, an examination of the merits of the case clearly indicates that the City of Highland Park is obligated to pay and is deficient in paying for the water and sewer services it receives from Detroit and now GLWA,” said Randal Brown, GLWA General Counsel.

As this litigation was assigned to GLWA through the Leases with the City of Detroit, GLWA will continue to pursue the recovery of amounts due from Highland Park and then reimburse the member partners that have paid for the water and/or sewer services rendered to but left unpaid by Highland Park.

GLWA remains committed to working with Highland Park and other stakeholders to seek a long-term resolution of this regional issue.

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About the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA)

The Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) is the provider-of-choice for drinking water services to nearly 40 percent, and efficient and effective wastewater services to nearly 30 percent, of Michigan’s population. With the Great Lakes as source water, GLWA is uniquely positioned to provide those it serves with water of unquestionable quality. GLWA also has the capacity to extend its services beyond its 88 member partner communities. As part of its commitment to water affordability, the Authority offers a Water Residential Assistance Program to assist low-income households in participating member communities throughout the system. GLWA’s board includes one representative each from Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties, two representatives from the city of Detroit, and one appointed by the Michigan governor to represent member partner communities outside of the tri-county area.