FRASER, Mich. – Close to 100 workers at a plant in Fraser had their vehicles damaged by a mystery substance and are suing a nearby business.
The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality determined that FormTech is responsible for the substance embedded on the paint of vehicles parked in the lot at the industrial park on 15 Mile Road.
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FormTech produces metal car parts.
For months, employees couldn’t figure out why orange and brown specks have become ingrained in the vehicles paint.
“I didn’t buy it this way and I don’t want it this way,” Bob Navarro said. “I just want it fixed.”
The paint jobs are damaged on more than 80 vehicles.
“The company next door messed it up,” Gary Ridgeway said. “We can’t seem to get it resolved on who's going to pay for this. I don’t feel I should have to pay for this.”
The report from MDEQ claims the particles are from FormTech and that it was ordered to fix issues with its equipment. The company manager says despite the report, they are not responsible for the damages. The manager also said they have fixed the issues with the equipment recommended by the state.
“I think, it’s just, they’re blowing smoke,” Mike Stefani, attorney for the plaintiffs, said. “It’s baloney.”
Stefani filed the lawsuit and alleges negligence for 61 individuals seeking more than $1.5 million in combined damages.
“We have employees who saw the dust coming over,” Stefani said. “It’s stained their parking lot significantly.”
FormTech says the issue came from railroad tracks a few miles away and that rust is blowing from there.