LANSING, MI – The Michigan Court of Claims has denied the state’s motion for summary disposition, allowing a lawsuit over the 2020 Edenville Dam failure to proceed to trial in January.

The case centers on allegations that the state was negligent in its handling of the dam, which failed during heavy rains in May 2020, forcing more than 10,000 residents to evacuate during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The disaster destroyed 2,500 homes and businesses and caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damages. The dam’s collapse also triggered the failure of the downstream Sanford Dam in Midland County.

“This ruling ensures this case will proceed to trial, where substantial questions about the State’s conduct leading up to the Edenville dam failure will be evaluated,” attorneys for the plaintiffs said

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