Can I sue the power company and local government for cutting off electricity without notice?
Dolan Williams
Lawyer1. What I would do is send written requests to both agencies asking for any and all records, internal emails, or communications related to the disconnection on or around July 23, 2024. You're legally entitled to this under FOIA (freedom of information act). That includes violation notices, inspection reports, work orders, or service logs. This paper trail is key. You can usually just ask them to make a public records request. I have a template demand available to you - https://www.contractscounsel.com/t/document-form-checkout/256 2. You can let [COMPANY] know in writing that they continued billing you after the disconnection, despite you having no service and no notice. Request a full refund or credit. If they claim [REDACTED] made the call, ask them to state that in writing because that helps clarify who's really responsible. 3. As a last resort, file a lawsuit. If you don’t get a satisfactory response, you can sue [COMPANY] for unauthorized termination of service, breach of duty, and unjust billing. [REDACTED] may also be a potential co-defendant if their role was significant. A judge will care about lack of notice, damage to your property’s use, and the continued billing. I hope this helps!
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The power company cut the cable to our property without prior notice. We were up to date with payments, and they continued to bill us even after cutting service. The house is abandoned, but there are outbuildings still in use which require electricity. Could these actions taken by the company form the grounds for a lawsuit? If so, we are eager to sue.
Hello! My name is Dolan and thank you so much for contacting me! I just had a few quick questions for you: To clarify, did they have any kind of justification for continuing to charge?
Hi Dolan, Thank you for your response. As far as I know they had no justification. One thing I need mention is that I contacted you on behalf of my brother, [NAME], who was the one who actually dealt with the power company. My job was to look for a lawyer for him, but it would be more efficient for you to communicate with him directly. Can he just sign in from his location ([LOCATION]) and carry on this chat with you directly from there?
Sure thing and yes I'm happy to address that! Yes you can give him your credentials to log in and he can chat with me here.
Ok thanks. I'll have him get in touch with you.
However, it might be a few days. He's pretty busy with other matters and it might take him awhile to organize.
Ok no sweat! I'll be here!
Thank you Dolan, I'm finally online. This is [NAME], [NAME]'s brother. Yes, we have some issue with the [LOCATION] [COMPANY] continuing to charge us. The big issue here is the reason for the cut, who authorized it, and how it was handled. It was an active account and there was no prior notification about the cut, nor is there any record of a work order for that date, 23 July '24. I don't believe [COMPANY] would have decided to cut it themselves; since the account was active, all they needed to do was turn the meter off. We suspect [REDACTED] had a big hand in this. We recently called the County sheriffs office. They seemed to think it was probably cut because the old house was not up to electrical code, and has been red-tagged. [REDACTED] could probably claim it was a potential fire danger, although there was no gas service. That had been turned off years ago. [REDACTED] is very likely correct in that it was an electrical code issue, although it doesn't look like they followed correct procedure. There was no prior notification nor any violation ticket issued, which would have alerted us to the issue, and allowed us to take corrective action. There was a new service entrance installed on the garage back in 2018, which we could have used to bypass the old house completely. But, we weren't given that chance. The actual cut would have been done by [COMPANY] since they're the only ones authorized to handle their own equipment. But the work was almost certainly done at [REDACTED]'s request. To repeat, [COMPANY] has no record of a work order on that date. It looks to me like this was some sort of backroom deal. [REDACTED]'s involvement is almost certain although no one at [COMPANY] will implicate [REDACTED]. They have told me nothing about it. Thank you, [NAME]
Got it and thanks for coming back! I'm so sorry about this situation! I want to address your situation with a detailed response, so if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask! So I break it up in several parts to make it easy: What I understand about your situation ,and then what As such: Here is how I understand it. It looks like the power line to your property was cut without any formal work order or prior notice, even though the account was active and paid up. This kind of disconnection, especially without a recorded code violation or formal notice from [REDACTED] or [COMPANY], is an obvious serious issue. It’s possible [REDACTED] flagged the property for safety/code issues, and [COMPANY] executed the disconnect at their request, but failed to follow due process. If no ticket or warning was issued, and there was an alternative (like using the garage service), that lack of notice basically violates your due process rights. So here is what you need to do:
1. What I would do is send written requests to both agencies asking for any and all records, internal emails, or communications related to the disconnection on or around July 23, 2024. You're legally entitled to this under FOIA (freedom of information act). That includes violation notices, inspection reports, work orders, or service logs. This paper trail is key. You can usually just ask them to make a public records request. I have a template demand available to you - https://www.contractscounsel.com/t/document-form-checkout/256 2. You can let [COMPANY] know in writing that they continued billing you after the disconnection, despite you having no service and no notice. Request a full refund or credit. If they claim [REDACTED] made the call, ask them to state that in writing because that helps clarify who's really responsible. 3. As a last resort, file a lawsuit. If you don’t get a satisfactory response, you can sue [COMPANY] for unauthorized termination of service, breach of duty, and unjust billing. [REDACTED] may also be a potential co-defendant if their role was significant. A judge will care about lack of notice, damage to your property’s use, and the continued billing. I hope this helps!
Thank you Dolan, that puts some things in perspective. One big issue here is that [COMPANY] never mentioned the almost certain role of [REDACTED]. I was in email contact with [COMPANY] in the days following the incident (which I saved of course), but they never told me that [REDACTED] was involved, and in fact HAD to be involved. As I mentioned, if [COMPANY] wanted to cut my service, all they had to do was deactivate my electric meter. But, since this was an account I was actively paying on, and a service I was using, they had no reason to do so. At the time of the cut, I was actually behind in my payment about $30 roughly. They did continue billing me until they finally acknowledged the service cable had been cut. I still owe them the amount for service from my last payment up to the date the cable was cut (again roughly $30). If it actually was [REDACTED] that ordered electric service cut, all they had to do, again, is direct [COMPANY] to deactivate my electric meter. That would have solved their problem, assuming there was one. So far, we have no direct evidence that [REDACTED] was involved. One conclusion I reached on my own, is that if no one claims responsibility for cutting the power cable, couldn't that be considered an act of vandalism? If so, the [COMPANY] should have acted promptly to correct the damage, and the police could have been involved. As the situation now stands, I was getting along for some months with an electric cord connection from my next door neighbors, who were happy to help out. However, they've since sold their house, and I'm back to making do with temporary power. I have plans to go off-grid with a battery power station which can be recharged with solar, wind, or other power source. I don't want to deal with [COMPANY] again. To repeat, the real issue here is not the continued billing from [COMPANY]. That's been resolved, except for the small amount I still owe. What I would rather focus on is the fact that due process (at least how I see it) was not followed in having my electric service cut. Yes, I will go thru the process of a public records request, or an FOIA request as you suggest, if that will be important. However, the facts of the situation speak for themselves: I was never given any prior notification of the cable cut, there was no violation notice posted re electric code violation, and no record of a work order in my [COMPANY] account. If [REDACTED] was involved, we have no evidence, and nobody at [COMPANY] is giving me any information regarding that. I am interested in legal action against [REDACTED] and [COMPANY] if we have enough evidence to go forward with that. However, if all we can expect is restoration of electric power, I'd rather not go thru the trouble and expense. What I would like to see is a lawsuit against them, suing them for damages. Appreciate your time, [NAME]
Thanks, [NAME]. Here's your situation in three sentences, based on everything you said: You're right to focus on the lack of due process because [COMPANY] cut an active, paid-up account without giving notice, filing a work order, or posting any violation, which strongly suggests something unusual happened behind the scenes. It's likely [REDACTED] played a role, but the fact that [COMPANY] never disclosed this and still billed you afterward makes the situation more questionable and potentially actionable. If no agency is willing to admit responsibility, and no formal documentation exists, the cut could arguably be treated as unauthorized tampering or even vandalism, which strengthens your position if you're serious about a lawsuit.
Thank again Dolan for your quick response. One thing I didn't really get into in my last email was the likely role of [REDACTED] in this matter. For the past couple years at least, we've been dealing with violation tickets issued by [REDACTED] for the run-down state of the old house. I believe I mentioned they red-tagged it about 2 or more years ago. We're currently fighting an abatement order to demolish the old house. My sister has some plans to restore it, but is having some difficulty finding money. Basically, she's asking for enough time to find money before the abatement order comes down. The abatement issue is related of course, but not central to the power cable cut off. I mention this because [REDACTED] hired another violations officer after the previous one retired last year. He's been giving us added harassment, details of which I won't go into, but we strongly suspect he had a big part in requesting/ordering the power cable to be cut, very possibly as another way to bully us into submission. As I mentioned earlier, it's obvious [COMPANY] actually cut the cable, but they are telling us nothing about who ordered it or why. Along with emailing [COMPANY], I've also been on the phone with their customer reps. They've put me on hold for long periods while they confer with supervisors. During one phone conversation, I was cut off 3-4 times and had to redial. They still told me basically nothing. We have no way of determining what connections the [REDACTED] violations officer has with [COMPANY] and how he very likely got them to do the actual deed, with no formal documentation. I've also mentioned that it's very unlikely [COMPANY] would have decided by themselves to cut the cable, when they could simply have deactivated the meter. The same with [REDACTED], assuming they're the likely culprits. You say this could be seen as unauthorized tampering or even vandalism. If this gives us a strong case, we are very interested in a lawsuit, to sue for damages if that's the correct word. However, I'm not at all certain as what could be considered "damages" in this case. Of course, the old house is unoccupied, but the electrical connection was used to power a storage and workspace area in another building separate from the old house. After the cut, I was unable to work there. I mentioned earlier that I restored some of it with a cord running from the neighbor's house, and I'm looking into a battery power station for a more permanent off-grid solution. So I'm at a loss to describe exactly how this affected me, other than it was very probably the act of an overcharged bully. I'm certainly aware of the old phrase "you can't fight city hall", but if we could establish this as a case of definite overreach, perhaps we can. I'll await your feedback on this aspect. Thanks, [NAME]
I hear you! So this looks like targeted pressure, especially with the ongoing abatement fight and the actions of a new violations officer. It's very likely [REDACTED] pushed [COMPANY] to disconnect service as a tactic, but without any notice, documentation, or proper procedure, that move could be seen as unlawful interference. The fact that [COMPANY] won't give you answers, keeps bouncing you around on the phone, and has no record of the disconnection only strengthens the suspicion of improper conduct. Although the old house is vacant, the power was being used for a separate workspace, so the disruption of that setup could count as a form of “actual damages” in legal terms which is loss of use, loss of utility, and interference with property rights. So in the end, a suit for damages would likely center around due process violations, unauthorized access or tampering, and harm caused by the loss of electricity to the active portion of the property. If you can get even minimal documentation tying [REDACTED] or that violations officer to the disconnection, your case would be much stronger. Nearly anything can be used as evidence. This is including, but not limited to, written testimony, oral testimony, text messages, photographs, videos, public records, police reports, medical records, etc. I'm sorry you're dealing with this. You can try posting a job for this on the (contractscounsel.com). You have the chance to post a job for free, then lawyers will bid on the jobs and you get to choose which lawyer and negotiate the price for the job as well. You will always still have access to this chat.
Thanks Dolan for your email from last Wednesday. I had to take a couple days off for other concerns. We have no evidence tying [REDACTED] and their violations officer to the action taken by [COMPANY] to cut the power cable. Of course, we have copies of violation tickets issued by [REDACTED] regarding a make safe or demolish order for the old house. However none of those make any mention of the power cable or any electric code non-compliance. If we brought suit against [COMPANY] for unauthorized tampering and ignoring our due process rights, asking a substantial sum for damages, I'm willing to bet [COMPANY] wouldn't take the fall in an effort to protect [REDACTED]. They would be forced to implicate them. Otherwise, a point I brought up earlier, if no one claims responsibility, we have a case of vandalism. [COMPANY] made no attempt to correct the damage, even though we reported it. In fact, perhaps to add insult to injury, they ran my credit score and told me I'd need to pay a security deposit to reconnect power thru the new service entrance (on the garage, that was installed some years prior). You mention "targeted pressure" in your last email. There is another small point which could add to that. Our local weekly newspaper, [LOCATION] City Pulse, frequently runs a column entitled "Eyesore of the Week". Yes, you guessed it: our old house was featured in that column some days after the cable was cut. We're fairly certain this was again the [REDACTED] violations officer responsible for providing the information to City Pulse, in an effort to embarrass us. The article also contained some factual errors. You also mentioned earlier an FOIA request which might be of some use. Thanks again, [NAME]
Got it! At this point, it’s becoming clear that there’s a pattern of pressure coming from [REDACTED], even if you don’t yet have written proof tying them directly to the power cut. The fact that the violation tickets make no mention of electrical issues supports your argument that there was no valid code basis for cutting power. If you bring a lawsuit against [COMPANY] for unauthorized tampering and due process violations, their likely defense would be to shift blame or reveal who directed the cut and if that’s [REDACTED], it could finally expose the connection. If neither party claims responsibility, your fallback argument of vandalism stands, especially since [COMPANY] made no move to restore the cut or address the situation after being notified. Running your credit and demanding a deposit afterward only adds insult and could help demonstrate unreasonable and punitive treatment. The Pulse article also supports your theory of targeted harassment, especially if it was planted by someone trying to publicly shame you as added pressure. A FOIA request is now more critical than ever and usually you can simply go down there or ask them over the phone for the form or link to file. They usually have the 10 days to file. It could uncover internal emails or orders that connect the dots and confirm what you’ve strongly suspected all along.
Thanks again Dolan. You mentioned an FOIA request, but didn't specify from whom. [COMPANY] or [REDACTED]? I understand it could uncover a lot of hidden connections, but I'm unsure about how much they might redact. I don't know much about FOIA in the first place; are they required to "spill all the beans" and incriminate themselves? My feeling at the moment is to hold off on any FOIA request or take any action that could alert [COMPANY] and [REDACTED] to any effort to expose them. For now, I'm content to let them assume we don't know anything about taking legal action, and that they can just steamroll us the way they do with most residents. I also assume that any legal action we take would have to start with a lawsuit against [COMPANY] alone, because we have no definite evidence that [REDACTED] is involved. Under that pressure, as you say, they would likely shift blame and expose the real actor that ordered the cut, which could lead to another lawsuit against [REDACTED], or perhaps both at once. I also assume we'd be asking for civil "damages" here, but I'm unsure about the specifics. I understand "damages" usually means some financial penalty, but how much could we actually expect from this? We have a number of liens against the property, totaling perhaps $100k or more, a few loans to pay off, and including demolition of the old house if it comes to that. It would be nice to at least have those covered by the lawsuit, if successful. But, is it possible to ask for more than that? Is it possible to really make it hurt, so it teaches them to take care in the future, and that their actions have consequences? I'd like your thoughts on that. Thanks, [NAME]
I hear you! You're right to be thinking strategically. To your first question: you can file FOIA requests with both [COMPANY] and [REDACTED]. [COMPANY] is a municipal utility and [REDACTED] is a township government — both are subject to Michigan’s Freedom of Information Act. They are allowed to redact certain things (like personal employee info or legal advice), but they cannot withhold documents simply because it makes them look bad or incriminates them — especially if the record shows who requested the power cut or what was discussed behind the scenes. As for damages: yes, this would be a civil lawsuit, likely for claims like trespass to property, unauthorized utility tampering, and maybe abuse of process if [REDACTED]’s hand is eventually revealed. You could seek compensatory damages for actual harm like the loss of use of your workspace and cost of alternate power and possibly punitive damages if you can show bad faith, willful misconduct, or deliberate targeting. Courts are cautious with punitive awards, but if you prove this was an abuse of authority, there's a shot at making it sting. And also yes, if you win, those funds could potentially help pay off liens or rebuild. So in the end yes, you can push for more than just reimbursement. If you’ve got the stomach for a legal fight, you’re in a good position to start putting real pressure on them.
Thanks again Dolan. We will very likely be filing FOIA requests with both [COMPANY] and [REDACTED] soon. We are currently in the process of hammering out an agreement with [REDACTED] re the amount of time we have available for demolition of the old house, if that's needed. Filing an FOIA with [REDACTED] will likely be some added pressure on them. I'm uncertain about how much their attorney knows about what transpired with the cable cut. We feel it's very likely that [COMPANY] informed their contacts in [REDACTED]--privately--that we were in both email and phone contact with [COMPANY] about the cut in the days and weeks following. They know that our basic questions for [COMPANY] were: who authorized the cut, why no prior notification, and why the lack of documentation. There's one other detail I might bring up, but forgot. The mast on the service entrance to the old house was bent by a contractor who cut a tree that fell on the cable, but didn't break it. He reattached the cable to the house, but the mast was still bent. The electric connection was secure, although it likely wasn't up to code. I've mentioned previously that we never received any violation tickets issued by [REDACTED] re electric code violation, nor did any of the tickets we did receive make any mention of that issue. This is probably not a big issue, but thought I'd mention it. You mentioned having the stomach for a legal fight, and I believe I do. It can't be much different than what we've already been through with [REDACTED], but this time we'd be on the firing side. So, the next question is: how do I find an attorney? I know Contracts Counsel is able to help, but I'm not sure how much. Would I need a [LOCATION]-based attorney, or possibly someone out of town or state, using zoom contact? We're currently working with a lawyer in town about our legal issues with [REDACTED]. He is a great guy, easy to talk to and very knowledgeable. However, there's one issue that's a deal breaker--his law firm commonly represents [COMPANY]. Otherwise, I'm sure our lawyer issue would be solved. Thanks again, [NAME]
Were you able to read my last email from May 15?
Hello there! I'm sorry for the delay. Yes, you're definitely thinking this through with the right mindset Filing FOIA requests with both [COMPANY] and [REDACTED] is smart to do especially while you're still negotiating with [REDACTED]. The reason is that it keeps them guessing and could shift the balance of power in your talks. They may be hoping you aren't aware of your FOIA rights. It also makes sense to suspect [COMPANY] may have informed [REDACTED] about your inquiries, which could explain why neither party wants to admit responsibility. That bent service mast could be used later to claim there was a safety risk, but since you were never cited for it and the connection was stable, it shouldn't undermine your case without formal documentation or notice. Also, you’re right: in that the legal fight you’re stepping into is different only in that now you’re the one pressing the issue, not reacting. As for finding an attorney, yes, Contracts Counsel can help, but you’ll likely want someone not affiliated with [COMPANY]. That conflict of interest can make a big difference, even if they’re out of town and willing to work by Zoom. Since your local lawyer has a conflict of interest, your best bet is to find a civil litigator or municipal law attorney outside [LOCATION] who is aggressive and independent, and ideally with experience suing public utilities or local governments.
Hi again Dolan, had to take some time off to deal with the demolition order from [REDACTED]. We sent FOIA requests to both [COMPANY] and [REDACTED]. I received the [COMPANY] response this morning, but there's no mention of the cable cut on the date in question 7-23-24. We're still waiting on the response from [REDACTED] regarding the FOIA request that we sent in Monday. It must have had some effect on them, even though it wasn't mentioned during our formal hearing before a judge (yesterday May 21). Before the formal hearing, we sat fairly close to the [REDACTED] violations officer(s) in consultation with their attorney in the lobby area, and we're certain the subject of [COMPANY] was mentioned. As I've mentioned, there's no definite evidence that [REDACTED] had any involvement in the power cable cut. Our attorney is aware of the FOIA requests, and he mentioned that we should wait on their response before drawing any real conclusions. But, if we come up empty handed from [REDACTED]'s response, it could mean two things. Either any discussion of the power cable cut was done by voice only so as not to leave any paper trail, or they may actually try to hide their involvement by not including incriminating information in the FOIA response. In doing so, they might assume there's no way for anyone to uncover that information as long as no one starts talking, so they can just sit on it. Of course, if no one takes responsibility for cutting the power cable, we can assume that's an act of vandalism, which [COMPANY] did nothing to correct. Also, if we can't get anything from [REDACTED], perhaps an initial lawsuit against [COMPANY], or threat of one, will likely spill the beans on [REDACTED]. That could open up a whole can of worms for them. We have a number of possibilities for attorneys who could handle a case involving punitive damages. I'd be interested in your response to my thoughts. Thanks, [NAME]
Hi [NAME], you’re right on track here. The fact that [COMPANY]’s FOIA response didn’t include anything about the 7/23 cable cut is suspicious and suggests either a lack of internal transparency or an intentional omission. If [REDACTED]’s FOIA reply comes back just as empty, your theory about verbal coordination or a paper trail being scrubbed becomes a very real possibility. That kind of secrecy actually works in your favor if you proceed with legal action, especially since the lack of documentation after such a significant utility disruption can look like concealment. If [COMPANY] won’t say who ordered the cut, and [REDACTED]’s silence continues, you have every right to label this as unauthorized tampering (maybe even vandalism) and demand accountability. Starting with a suit or legal threat against [COMPANY] is smart strategy; if they were acting on outside orders, they may try to offload blame, which could finally expose [REDACTED]’s involvement. Punitive damages become more viable if you can show this was not just an accident, but a coordinated or retaliatory move without due process.
Hi Dolan, Back in action here after a cold and flu. We received a reply last week from [REDACTED] regarding the FOIA request. Just a 2 word response: request denied. Our lawyer says that this means either they have no information, or it's related to someone's personal information that could legally be kept confidential. I'm willing to bet that by "no information", that could very well indicate there's no paper trail. We're crafting follow-up FOIA requests for both [COMPANY] and [REDACTED] but this will take another day or two. A follow-up to [COMPANY] might include a request for a screenshot of my account admin screen, where I was told--in writing--that there was no record of a work order on the day in question 23 July 24. I
Sorry the last email was sent a little too soon by mistake. I included a pdf of the FOIA response from [COMPANY]. A little hard to make out what this is, but only the date appears to be correct. There is no indication of what work (other than "outage") was performed or why. Also, the time is way too early, before 8 am, when I was still there. When I left home, about 8:30 or 9, I definitely had full power. The document shows the action took only 6 minutes. Not sure what to make of this. As I mentioned, [COMPANY] told me a number of times that there was no record of a work order on my account for that date. So, it would seem we're back to a situation where no one is taking responsibility, and from what you said, this seems to indicate unauthorized tampering or even outright vandalism. As I've speculated before, the only way to force their hand would be to threaten punitive damages against [COMPANY], hoping that would force them to uncover any role that [REDACTED] had in this. We're in the process of identifying a lawyer that could take this case, someone experienced at suing utilities and local governments. If you have any suggestions, I would appreciate hearing them. [NAME]
Glad you’re feeling better, [NAME]. [REDACTED]' s “request denied” response is telling because your lawyer’s right that it likely means either there’s nothing responsive or they’re hiding behind a confidentiality exemption. But your instinct is solid: “no information” may actually confirm what you suspected all along which is that any involvement was done off the record, possibly to avoid liability. Sending targeted follow-up FOIA request asking [COMPANY] for a screenshot of your account admin screen, is a good next move because it forces them to lock in their story. Anything can be used against a person in court. If there really was no work order, and no one takes responsibility, it reinforces your argument that the cut was unauthorized and potentially unlawful.
Hi again Dolan, We're still crafting round 2 FOIA requests for both [COMPANY] and [REDACTED]. Our lawyer is currently on vacation in Italy and due back the 15th (as a lawyer, job details tend to follow you around, even on vacation!). He'll help us with these new FOIA requests. From what I can see, from whichever angle you look at it, nothing adds up about this case. It's hard for me to imagine what their response to the pending FOIA requests would be, a response that would clear the air, explain everything, and give us perfectly understandable reasons to let this blow over. I'm seriously thinking now that there way very well be a coverup, which is just speculation at this point. Somehow, [COMPANY] and [REDACTED] are connected in this issue, and [REDACTED] may somehow be actively working to keep their name from being dragged thru the mud in open court. If we target [COMPANY] with an initial lawsuit, and seek stiff punitive damages, that would tell us a lot to see how far they'll go to protect [REDACTED]. As you say, we have the right to expect full accountability. Thanks again, [NAME]
I hear you! At this point, too many points to something being deliberately hidden. The absence of records, vague denials, and refusal to provide even basic documentation ALL suggest more than just bureaucratic sloppiness. If you file a targeted lawsuit against [COMPANY] this could be the pressure point that forces their hand and potentially exposes [REDACTED]'s involvement, especially if they scramble to shift liability. If there is a coverup, it won't hold under discovery once a suit is filed and subpoenas start flying. Also yes, you’re % entitled to demand transparency and accountability because when your property and rights have been impacted without notice or justification, then there is a big problem..
Hi Dolan, This is [NAME]'s brother, [NAME], contacting you. I've been reading the back and forth between both of you, and it looks to me that we indeed have a case. I'm currently helping [NAME] to find a local lawyer and get this lawsuit off the ground, but I've found it sort of tough going; there are local lawyers, but none seem to work on cases like ours. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong places? Would you have any suggestions, or better yet, do you have the resources available to help us find one locally here in the [LOCATION] area? Thanks much for all your help--[NAME]
Hi [NAME], thanks for jumping in to help [NAME]. The short answer? Yes, it definitely sounds like you have the groundwork for a case, but you're right: finding a lawyer who handles municipal utility disputes or government accountability cases can be tricky. Your best bet is to search for attorneys in the [LOCATION] area who focus on civil litigation to be frank, or who engage in municipal law, or even constitutional or tort claims I don’t have any specific contacts; however, I can do the next best thing. One thing I recommend is going through your state’s lawyer referral service (LRS). The LRS typically only lists experienced attorneys who have adequate staffing to assist people. MI allows you to talk to a lawyer for just $25 for a 25 minute consultation - https://lrs.michbar.org/LRS-Info/Lawyer-Referral-Service You can always try the National Lawyers Guild Michigan Chapter: S Try justia or avvo.com Filter by location and practice area, then look for lawyers who explicitly list experience suing public entities or utilities. Also, don't rule out attorneys who are a bit outside [LOCATION] but handle cases statewide
Hi Dolan, this is [NAME] again. Do you have any idea what retainer fees we would need for a lawyer to take on our case? I just talked to one, who doesn't deal with these kinds of cases, and he told me between 5-10k. Also, that it would take thousands of hours to dig through this case and win since we are dealing with a government entity, even though they have no defense. And here I was entertaining ideas that we might be able to settle this out of court. I'd appreciate your thoughts on this.
Sure thing! For a case like this involving potential municipal liability and utility misconduct, a retainer of $5,000 to $10,000 is actually pretty typical, though some lawyers might ask for even more depending on complexity. This amount will secure probably 10-15 hours worth of work which is a lot! It might not take "thousands of hours," these cases do involve a lot of document review, discovery, and possible motions, which is why costs can climb. Settling out of court is still a real possibility and many public entities prefer to settle quietly once they see you’re serious and have evidence, to avoid publicity and further legal fees. A strong, demand letter backed by your FOIA findings could push them toward settlement before you get too deep into litigation costs. It’s smart to budget for the higher end just in case, but also know that the threat of a lawsuit alone often opens the door to negotiation.
Hi Dolan, This is [NAME] again. My brother [NAME] told me about speaking with a local lawyer, who reviewed (actually, probably barely skimmed) the transcript of our email chat over the past few months. The lawyer's reply was he thought you were definitely an AI ChatBot. Have you run across this before? Personally I don't think you are, even though I know AI can do some amazing things. I think it's only proper for a competent service such as Contracts Counsel to avoid tricking people like that. The lawyer's viewpoint was that we'd been naively suckered into this and that the chatbot was only telling us what we wanted to hear. I see you have a resume, so I never for once that you weren't the real thing. This whole subject probably doesn't really matter, but in case we show the transcript to another lawyer, I'd want to clear up any lingering doubts about this. Thanks, [NAME]
lol If I were a chat bot, I definitely wouldn't have to count how many carbs I eat. I understand the lawyer's concerns, though. Lawyers love AI, but you're chatting with an actual person. You haven't been tricked in any way. My bar license number is 309871 and I'm licensed in California. The photograph you see is of me. I took it in 2019 at an alumni meeting for Purdue University. I was on their alumni network committee back then and it's the photo that makes me look less stupid. I'm sorry if you felt any doubt about this. I promise you're in good hands here. Nevertheless, just to reiterate from 6/25, 5-10 is typical for a retainer, but anything above that would be unreasonable. Thousands of hours would be unreasonable, but I'd start with a demand letter backed by the FOIA findings. The main reason is that lawsuits can be difficult, draining financially, draining emotionally, and draining in terms of your time. If you have any other questions, let me knoW!
Hi again Dolan, and let me add my own Lol. Never had any doubt you were the real thing, and I have half a mind to fwd your response to that smart-ass lawyer. I am currently formulating a follow-up FOIA request for the [COMPANY]. We're asking some specific questions this time, such as "was [REDACTED] involved in the decision to cut the power cable?" Up to now, my thinking has involved threatening [COMPANY] with a lawsuit asking for punitive damages as a way to force them to expose the involvement of [REDACTED]. But what if they just call my bluff and admit responsibility in their FOIA response, including the participation of [REDACTED]? Do I still have a case if they take that action? It would seem that it might be a good way for them to take the wind out of my sails. But in admitting responsibility, they're also admitting they trampled on our due process rights, along with unauthorized tampering, and even vandalism. If this involves actual criminal charges, that's of course beyond my reach. Well, maybe I should just quit here and wait for your response. [NAME]
LOL, Feel free to send it on. Anyway, if [COMPANY] admits responsibility and even admits to [REDACTED]'s involvement with this then you still have a strong case. The reason is because they'd basically be confessing to violating your due process rights and interfering with your property (improperly). Them admitting fault doesn’t take the wind out of your sails. Anything a person says can be used against them, including admissions, in a court of law. As such, it gives you evidence to support your claims. Criminal charges have to e handled by the state, so I'd focus on the civil liability part. If they do admit everything, it might also open the door for settlement talks, since they’d likely want to avoid drawn-out litigation and public scrutiny.
Hi Dolan, this [NAME] again. I'm currently looking for lawyers online and am sending them a text message, as that seems to be the only way to initiate contact with many of them. Below is a copy of what I've been sending, and I would appreciate your comments/ suggestions for improvement. My thinking is to get the cover up aspect of the case out there so that a lawyer would see this is potentially more than just about a due process rights violation: "I’m looking for a lawyer to bring a lawsuit against the power company. They cut the cable to my property without prior notice. I suspect in reality it was the township who was responsible (due to the condition of the house) and the deed was carried out with the help of someone at the power company. With documents obtained through the freedom of information act, I am accumulating evidence to support my assertion, and have been in consultation with an out-of-town lawyer about this. He agrees that there may be some kind of cover up going on and that, due process rights aside, I have strong grounds for a lawsuit. I can send transcripts of my communications with him if you are interested."
Ok thanks! That's good, but I just made some tweaks. You could say: "I’m looking for a lawyer to bring a lawsuit against the local power company for cutting the cable to my property without prior notice or proper process. I strongly suspect the township was actually behind this, with help from someone at the power company, possibly to pressure us over an old house on the property. I’ve obtained documents through FOIA requests and have been working with another lawyer who agrees there may be a cover-up and serious violations of my rights. Beyond the clear due process issues, I believe this case involves intentional misconduct and potentially punitive damages. I can share detailed transcripts of my communications and evidence if you’re interested." If you add in the fact that it's intentional misconduct, then this gets the lawyers thinking about how they will attack it.
Ok, thanks Dolan. I really appreciate your input. Still no reply from any of the lawyers I've contacted, though I'm just getting started. I get the feeling that most of them won't want to touch this, since it deals with a lawsuit against a government agency, but I have faith that there must be sombody out there. Like you and based on what I've observed so far, perhaps stating in my message about possible "intentional misconduct" might entice one of them to take the bait.
I hear you! I'm so sorry about that. What I can tell you is that it takes time to find the right one. I had client I found on this site who had been looking for months until they got one. Also, if you haven't already, post a job to contractscounsel.com. You can post the bid for free and have lawyers bid and they almost always do.