UPDATED: Thursday, Feb. 9 1:00 PM
Detroit International Bridge Company (DIBC) President Dan Stamper and Matty Moroun's son, Matthew, appeared before Judge Prentis Edwards in Wayne County Circuit Court today.
Both pledged that DIBC will comply with Edwards' order, and complete the Gateway Project according to specifications.
And both swore to cede power over the Gateway Project to a "special committee" as outlined in Michigan law--one that will include Stamper, but will otherwise be made up of outsiders.
DIBC lawyer Godfrey Dillard says his clients are doing what they can to "purge themselves of the contempt" charges that landed Stamper and Matty Moroun in jail briefly last month. But they still think the underlying court order is wrong--and will appeal that separately.
Dillard says the company has already started "de-construction" on their portion of the Gateway Project in order to comply.
But Tony Kratofil, Metro Region engineer for M-DOT, says it's "too soon to tell" whether all of this adds up to DIBC acting in good faith.
"It all sounds very good on the surface, but we’ll see what actions play out in the next month,” Kratofil said.
Another hearing to monitor progress is scheduled for March 8th before Judge Edwards.
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The company that owns the Ambassador Bridge says it will comply with a court order—and give up a years-long legal battle over a disputed construction project.
The announcement comes ahead of a scheduled hearing in Wayne County Circuit Court Thursday.
But the Detroit International Bridge Company won’t use it to keep fighting the February, 2010 court decision ordering them to finish the long-delayed Gateway Project.
That's a joint construction project with the Michigan Department of Transportation, meant to better connect the bridge with surrounding highways.
Instead, Bridge Company officials say they'll use the hearing to detail how they plan to comply.
The ongoing battle between the DIBC and MDOT landed DIBC President Dan Stamper and bridge owner Manuel "Matty" Moroun in jail overnight for civil contempt of court last month. Last week, the Michigan Court of Appeals upheld the lower court judge's right to incarcerate the two men, though not indefinitely.
Stamper admits the idea of returning there motivated them to cooperate. “It entered into all of our thoughts,” said Stamper.
Moroun's son, Matthew, added: "I don’t think any human being likes jail.”
Matthew Moroun says he and his father will also cede decision-making powers for the Gateway Project to a "special committee." They say that committee will include Stamper, but otherwise be made up of people from outside the DIBC.
Although they've now agreed to comply with, the DIBC continues to insist the court order is wrong. They've blamed MDOT all along for the construction delays, despite the court's decision and the findings of an independent monitor.
