Judge demands to know why bridge boss ignored court order

DETROIT — The president of the Ambassador Bridge has been ordered by a judge to explain why the company is not in contempt of court for failing to comply with a court order to take tear down newly built structures at the bridge.

According to local media, Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Prentis Edwards ordered Detroit International Bridge Co. President Dan Stamper to appear in court May 10 to show cause why his company has not removed toll booths, a duty free shop and fuel station as the judge ordered.

Jude Edwards will consider in May whether to order the insurance company which bonded the construction to take over the Gateway project work from DIBC.

The bridge company questioned the enforceability of Prentis’ Feb. 1 order that it tear out the new facilities which are said to be built on Detroit City land and are supposedly in the way of bridge connections to I-75 and I-96.

The bridge company appealed Prentis’ order, but the state Court of Appeals rejected the appeal.

Stamper, meanwhile, said in a statement that the company will file an emergency appeal to the Michigan Supreme Court, but in the meantime would immediately begin preliminary work to "reconstruct portions of the Gateway Project until appellate courts direct otherwise."

"Today’s comments by Judge Prentis Edwards would interfere with the day-to-day movement of international traffic over the Ambassador Bridge and challenges our ability to provide a sterile plaza area for federal inspectors …," Stamper said the statement.

"We are concerned that Judge Edwards has, at the request of the Michigan Department of Transportation, ordered the destruction of millions of dollars in investments without allowing DIBC the right to a trial or the ability to call a single witness." 


Have your say


This is a moderated forum. Comments will no longer be published unless they are accompanied by a first and last name and a verifiable email address. (Today's Trucking will not publish or share the email address.) Profane language and content deemed to be libelous, racist, or threatening in nature will not be published under any circumstances.

*