DETROIT (AP) — Detroit is stepping up efforts to collect on unpaid electricity bills by suing churches, schools and other organizations the city says owe a combined $834,000.
The Detroit Free Press reports the city recently sued 10 organizations in Wayne County Circuit Court.
Detroit’s corporation counsel Melvin (Butch) Hollowell says the lawsuits are part of a crackdown by the administration of Mayor Mike Duggan after the city last summer started shutting off power and issuing other warnings to corporate customers of the Detroit Public Lighting Department.
Hollowell says about $29 million in all was owed by those customers. He says in the past year the city has collected $17 million.
Detroit emerged from Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection in December and the city has been phasing out its money-losing lighting department.
- Posted April 10, 2015
- Tweet This | Share on Facebook
City sues churches, schools over unpaid electricity bills

headlines Macomb
- Macomb County Meals on Wheels in urgent need of volunteers ahead of holiday season
- MDHHS hosting three, free virtual baby showers in November and December for new or expecting families
- MDHHS secures nearly 100 new juvenile justice placements through partnerships with local communities and providers
- MDHHS seeking proposals for student internship stipend program to enhance behavioral health workforce
- ABA webinar November 30 to explore the state of civil legal aid in America
headlines National
- This Is the Moment
- ACLU and BigLaw firm use ‘Orange is the New Black’ in hashtag effort to promote NY jail reform
- BigLaw partner won’t charge his $3,250 hourly rate to defend New Jersey cities in Trump administration suits
- After second federal judge withdraws error-riddled ruling, litigants seek explanation
- 5 hallucinated cases lead federal judge to kick 3 Butler Snow lawyers off case
- Bondi files ethics complaint against federal judge who reportedly expressed concern about ‘constitutional crisis’