8/2/14 - An attorney representing an elderly couple who own two homes the City of Brighton wants torn down has appealed their case to the highest in the land. Leon and Marilyn Bonner own two homes on North Street that the city ordered demolished in January of 2009 on the basis that they pose a danger to public health and safety. They sued the city over an ordinance which requires the demolition of unsafe homes whose value is less than the cost of repairing them. The state Court of Appeals issued a decision late last year and ruled portions of the city ordinance violated due process. However, the Michigan Supreme Court just recently issued a unanimous opinion overturning that decision. The Bonnersâ attorney, Dennis Dubuc, says they have always wanted to fix the homes and have the funds to do so. He tells WHMI the court did not make a decision as to whether or not the Bonnersâ constitutional rights had been violated, just that the Cityâs ordinance is constitutional on its face. He says if allowed to stand, that decision would be far reaching and precedent setting. Dubuc has now filed to have their case heard by the US Supreme Court. It will be up to that court to decide whether to hear that case or not. (JK)
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