A civil trial tied to the Edenville and Sanford dam failures is getting underway in West Michigan, more than 5 years after the flooding that devastated communities across the region.
A bench trial begins today in the Michigan Court of Claims in Grand Rapids. Judge James Redford will hear arguments examining the State of Michigan’s role in oversight of the dams prior to their collapse. Attorneys representing flood victims are expected to present evidence focused on state regulation and monitoring leading up to the failures in May 2020, when thousands of residents lost homes, businesses, and sources of income. The trial is expected to run two to three weeks…