Press Release | Office of the Mayor | Class Action Lawsuit Against City of Westland Dismissed

For Immediate Release | Official Press Release

PRESS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR

36300 Warren Road | Westland, Michigan | 48185

Office 734.467.3200 | Fax 734.422.1230

WWW.CITYOFWESTLAND.COM

Class Action Lawsuit Against City of Westland Dismissed

Suit Alleged Overbilling by Water Department

Westland, MI - A certified class action lawsuit against the City of Westland has been dismissed by the Wayne County Circuit Court.

In 2015 a class action lawsuit was brought forth against the City of Westland that alleged approximately 27,000 current water customers were being charged excessively and in violation of the Headlee Amendment of the Michigan Constitution. Similar lawsuits were filed against multiple area municipalities including Dearborn, Ferndale, Royal Oak, Birmingham, Bloomfield Township and Taylor. The suit against Taylor was tossed out last month. Today, the suit against Westland was dismissed in an opinion and order of Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Craig Strong.

The City filed motions to dismiss the lawsuit arguing the rates are reasonable and appropriate. The Court found that the City's water and sewerage rates are reasonable user fees and not taxes and do not violate the Headlee Amendment. The opinion further held that water and sewer rate funds are not being improperly transferred to the General Fund to support services to the public at large. For nearly two decades, rates have covered the City's costs, updates and other improvements to the system. The process, which has evolved over time, is an acceptable process that allows the City of Westland to prepare for a disaster while properly maintaining the water system.

"The City of Westland has, from the beginning, held the position that this lawsuit was frivolous ," commented Mayor Wild. "This decision by Judge Strong proves that the city was right to oppose this lawsuit. We are happy with the outcome and will continue to provide Westland residents with services we hold to the highest of standards."

For more information, please call Aubrey Berman at (734)467-3200

Westland, Michigan is the state's 10th largest municipality, with a population of over 84,000 people who exhibit a great deal of pride in their All-American City. Westland has a thriving business community along with beautiful residential areas. The citizens enjoy a wide array of amenities and a quality of life that is second to none.

In 2014, Westland was rated as one of 24/7 Wall Street's America's Best 50 Cities to Live, offering residents and visitors an ideal blend of single-family affordable homes, apartments and condominiums, great schools, and access to numerous outdoor activities. Public safety is delivered by full-service, professional law enforcement and firefighting personnel. Westland Police Department, whose motto is protect and serve, provides emergency dispatch services to four cities and over 100,000 residents; the Westland Fire Department are licensed paramedics who responded to over 9,000 calls for service last year, about 85% being medical based. They never forget their mission of preserving life and property.

Westland is well-known as the premier destination for shopping and dining in Wayne County with hundreds of shops and restaurants anchored by the Westland Shopping Center, one of the country's original four regional malls.

Infinite opportunities are available in Westland for the recreation aficionado including, more than 40 parks and 1,500 acres of trails, a 9-hole golf course, hockey arena, athletic fields, playscapes, a Farmers and Artisans Market and more. One of Michigan's most environmentally friendly cities, Westland has a progressive curbside recycling program with one of the highest participation rates in the nation and the City is raising the bar for cultural experiences with the placement of public art throughout the City.

The City is served by two public school districts; Wayne-Westland Community Schools serving 12,000 youth was recently named one of the Best School in Michigan by WXYZ-TV and is the proud recipient of 14 Golden Apple and two Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary School Awards. Livonia Public Schools, educating nearly 15,000 students, is proud of their MEAP/MME scores that exceed state averages and the District has also earned Golden Apple and Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary School Awards.

The City provides competitive incentives for those who are interested in investing in Westland, making it one of the hottest investment markets in the region. Our Fast-Track to Business Team, which consists of key decision makers who work diligently on a development plan will "cut the red tape" and expedite the approval process for new business development.