METC has filed multiple lawsuits in Branch County Circuit Court to gain property rights allowing expansion of and tree clearing around existing transmission lines.
METC, which is related to ITC, has filed a series of lawsuits in Coldwater. According to the complaints, METC purchased a transmission line from the City of Coldwater that was constructed in the 1950s. METC alleges that it will be making improvements to this transmission line. However, there are no recordable real estate rights encumbering the properties adjacent to this transmission line, which includes both improved commercial properties on Michigan Avenue and residential homes. METC seeks to impose an expansive easement upon these properties, allowing significant rights to alter the existing transmission line and clear cut vegetation.
This case follows METC’s filing of a series of cases in Branch County to construct a new transmission line in Girard and Union Townships. I am representing all of the remaining property owners contesting just compensation in those cases. I am also representing owners in the new cases.
This blog post aggregates various discussions on this blog that are relevant to ITC (or in this case METC) condemnations.
Please feel free to contact me if ITC or METC has sought to acquire rights from you.