ITC is seeking expanded vegetation management rights from property owners in Washington Township.
ITC has issued numerous good faith offers to property owners in Washington Township. The offers, which are being received this week, threaten to file lawsuits if not accepted by Monday, January 16 (which happens to be Martin Luther King Day). Many owners are understandably bothered by their perception that ITC is using strong-arm tactics by giving only two business days from receipt to respond.
The good faith offer seeks expanded vegetation management rights that will encumber from all to almost all of the owners’ backyards.
A good faith offer is a statutory prerequisite to filing a condemnation lawsuit. While they purport to expire Monday, I find it highly doubtful that ITC will be filing lawsuits on Tuesday. Condemnation lawsuits will be filed in Macomb County Circuit Court.
I am already representing other property owners in Macomb and Oakland County Circuit Court for lawsuits filed along this transmission line. Based on the number of inquiries received today, I expect to represent a large group of owners in this most recent round of takings.
If you have been approached by ITC, this blog post provides a general discussion of issues implicated in these cases.
If you have been contacted by ITC or any other condemning authority, please feel free to contact me.