Edenville Dam’s Former Owner Must Pay $119.8 Million in Damages

The former owner of the Edenville Dam in Michigan is liable for $119.8 million for damages caused by the dam’s failure in 2020, a federal court said.

“The dam’s ownership completely disregarded imminent threats to the safety and integrity of the dam,” Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a statement.

Lee Mueller, who filed a notice of bankruptcy with the court in September, and his business were “responsible for the disaster that struck Edenville and other area communities,” Nessel said.

Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy and its Department of Natural Resources sued the owners and ...