ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – A Delta County judge has dismissed a small claims case against the Delta Conservation District by its former CEO, Rory Mattson.
Mattson sued the Delta Conservation District for $4,000 over ownership of a dump trailer, which was purchased jointly by the Conservation District, the Delta County Parks, and Mattson in 2016. Each party agreed to pay $2,000 of the $6,000 trailer.
On October 16, Mattson claimed in court that he paid his initial share, plus $2,000 to purchase the trailer himself when the Conservation District and County parted ways in 2022. However, Conservation District Board member Joe Kaplan testified that there was “no evidence” of Mattson’s initial buy-in.
After hearing both sides of the issue and evaluating the evidence, Judge Steven Parks dismissed Mattson’s case due to a “lack of jurisdiction.” Parks cited a Michigan law that says, “the state, a political subdivision of the state, or any other governmental agency shall not be a party to an action in the small claims division.” He determined that Mattson’s case was “improperly filed” in small claims court.
In the spring, the Conservation District was served with a second lawsuit from Mattson regarding a “breach of contract” and payments he says were approved by the former Conservation District Board. That case is yet to go to court.
For more information on the dump trailer suit, click here.
