6/3/14 - Green Oak Township officials who are being sued by the company that owns the former Liquid Manufacturing Co. building and site say the claims in the lawsuit are invalid and are asking a federal judge to dismiss the lawsuit. Packaging and Distribution Finance Group, or PDFG, filed the suit against each and every Green Oak Township trustee last month in U.S. District Court in Detroit. It alleged they have violated both the U.S. and Michigan constitutions in their enforcement actions against Liquid Manufacturing. Until February of this year, the company made a varied line of energy and alcohol drinks. But after it ran into financial difficulty, PDFG foreclosed on the property. Liquid Manufacturing clashed with the township on numerous occasions during its 12 years in business, mostly over discharges resulting from the alcohol fermentation and related processes at the plant. The township was also under the gun by the Department of Environmental Quality for an excess of sodium at its plant, mostly caused by the distillery. In its lawsuit, PDFG is asking the court to order that all fees, fines and charges assessed by the township be rescinded and to award the company damages and attorney fees. In a filing made last week, the township responded to the allegations, saying its actions to enforce its ordinances are protected by governmental immunity. Furthermore, the township says the federal court lacks jurisdiction to hear the claims because the company has failed to obtain a final decision from the township regarding the application of its ordinances. Supervisor Mark St. Charles says if PDFG wins the lawsuit and is awarded all of the damages it is seeking, it could cost the township half a million dollars. He says that by law, the money would have to come out of the sewer fund and since that must be self-sustaining, the legal bill would fall on the shoulders of residents and businesses connected to the sewage treatment plant. A hearing is set for June 30th in U.S. District Court in Detroit to review the filings and schedule further dates in the lawsuit. (JK)
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