Experienced Michigan Lawyers Helping Residents File Individual Claims for Damages Due To Dam Failures
The Pitt Legal Team is Proudly Assisting Our Neighbors Who Suffered Damage to their Property After Avoidable Dam Failures
Individual Claims to Pursue What is Fair…and You Deserve Nothing Less
On Friday, May 22, 2020, the Pitt Legal Team, comprised of attorneys from the Southeast Michigan law firms of Pitt, McGehee, Palmer, Bonanni & Rivers, P.C., and Stern Law, PLLC, filed a lawsuit to protect victims of this completely avoidable disaster. These are knowledgeable and experienced Michigan environmental attorneys that have been involved in the Flint Water crisis. Attorney Michael Pitt has been appointed by the Federal Court as a Lead attorney in that litigation and attorney Kenneth Stern is an experienced trial attorney representing Flint victims and he has litigated cases across the country against the largest corporations, various states and the federal government. These attorneys also have extensive experience litigating complex cases against the state of Michigan for damages on behalf of Michigan residents.
You may now be entitled to significant compensation for damages to your property through an individual claim.
Because the flooding related damage of every individual, family or business here is unique and significant, their compensation should be customized based upon their individual circumstances and damage. As a result, a class action may be a less desirable approach as these actions tend to treat many victims the same, and as a result the awards of some class members can be reduced by less damaged individuals or entities in the class. Also, in a class action, the class members have very little if any voice or control over the litigation and/or the amount of their award as class members.
An alternative strategy is to pursue individual claims for each damaged party, whether a property or business owner. The individual case approach permits each damaged party to seek the full amount of the unique damages they deserve. Further, in an individual case approach, the damaged party retains control over the amount of their award, with an ability to accept or reject any settlement offers.
We and our clients believe that because individual claims allow each client to recover the full amount of the damages they deserve through a claim the client controls, this is a better approach than pursuing a class action. As a result, we are filing individual claims for each of our clients.
Provide us your contact information and a brief overview of the damages you have faced so that we can begin working on your behalf.
What Damages Can Our Clients Pursue in an Individual Action?
Damages we’re pursuing for our clients include the following:
Damage to real estate, including required home maintenance, repairs, lost property value and loss of the ability to use and enjoy the property
Damage to personal property, including, boats, docks, vehicles, appliances, furniture, clothing, and other personal items
Damage to commercial property, including buildings, inventory, and other assets
Damage to crops, landscaping, and seawalls
Business interruption and loss of revenue and profits
Other damages to be identified
The Pitt Legal Team Difference
Michigan Lawyers, With the Proven Experience To Win
All Michigan lawyers qualified to pursue complex and challenging litigation
Experienced in environmental litigation, including the Flint water crisis where State of Michigan proven responsible
Michael Pitt appointed Co-Lead attorney by Federal Court in Flint water litigation
Previous successful litigation against the State of Michigan based upon many of the same legal theories and claims brought here
Retained experts in insurance law, property appraisals and damage assessments to support every client’s case
Individual Cases—Not a Class Action
Pursuing individual cases for each client because damages are unique, unlike a class action that can treat every claim the same. As a result, client award customized based upon their individual circumstances
In individual case approach, clients retain control of their case, including right to approve or reject settlement, unlike class action where class members have little or no voice or control
Class action approach may only be best in limited circumstances where there’s been little damage, and the damages are similar. That rarely appears to be the case here.
Seeking all recoverable damages, including damage to client’s property, required repairs, loss in property value, loss of the ability to use and enjoy property, alternative living expenses, loss of appliances, personal items, business losses, and more
Resources to Protect Clients
Weekly Zoom Town Halls to reassure and inform clients and area residents
Clients provided resources to deal with insurance claims, tax assessments, housing and support
A Proven Leader That Will Earn Your Trust
Speak directly with our Michigan lawyers to understand your claim and why we believe our individual claim approach is best for area residents seriously damaged by flood. No secretaries, paralegals or “local front men” without appropriate experience and qualifications will respond to your questions and concerns
Contacted by hundreds of area residents suffering flood damage, with many referred by friends, neighbors and relatives of clients we represent
Represent many area lawyers suffering flooding damage
Many lawyers inexperienced in cases of this type are referring their clients to us for representation
Latest:
Our legal team makes it easy to get helpful information regarding your legal rights through Zoom Town Hall meetings. Click the link below to review past events and learn about the efforts we are making on behalf of those harmed by this preventable disaster.
Recent Commentary
“Edenville Dam inspector: ‘People want to point fingers,’ but I did my best”
Read Michael Pitt’s recent Bridge Magazine editorial
“Opinion | Michigan EGLE can’t be trusted to probe its role on dam failures”
Concerns Grow Over Independence, Transparency Surrounding Dam Failure Investigation
“Whitmer administration names outside team to probe Edenville dam failure”
We are Michigan lawyers here to help our Michigan neighbors. This is not about anything more than ensuring those harmed receive all the compensation they deserve - and that those deemed responsible are held accountable once their actions (and inaction) have been fully exposed
You Have Questions, We Have Answers
It’s critical that you feel confident working with the Pitt Law Legal Team regarding the filing of an individual claim. We believe in earning your trust through transparency, and we’ve provided the following as a brief overview of common questions and concerns the community has regarding this litigation
Better understand the case filed by our lawyers and what the next steps in our litigation by reading our brief FAQ section
The Case Has Already Been Filed - Get Involved!
Want to learn more about our case? You can see recent news pieces, featuring our attorneys, here!
