Detroit, Michigan: Judge Dismisses Demolition Contractor's Defamation Suit Against City Inspector General; Fill Contamination Above Limits at 500 City-Owned Properties
Wayne County Circuit Judge David Allen on October 21 dismissed a defamation lawsuit brought by Detroit demolition contractor Gayanga Company and its CEO Brian McKinney against the city Office of Inspector General, ruling that the office and Inspector General Kamau Marable are protected by civil immunity under the law. McKinney sued in May, claiming the office's "false and misleading public statements" destroyed his Black-owned Detroit business and seeking more than $100 million in damages.
The judge ruled that under Michigan law protecting government agencies and senior officials acting within their authority, the defendants are immune from civil liability. The Inspector General's office began investigating Gayanga in June 2025 after a tip, suspecting the company of using fill from sources not approved by the city to backfill demolished lots; after sampling in September 2025 found contamination above limits at 33 of the company's 41 demolition properties, the city suspended its demolition work. As of October 30, city testing found contamination above limits at 500 of 533 city-owned properties, with dozens of privately owned properties still awaiting testing.
The Inspector General's office said the investigation remained ongoing as of November 10. McKinney's attorney Todd Perkins said on November 11 that he is considering an appeal; Detroit's chief attorney Conrad Mallet welcomed the ruling the same day.
Source: Detroit Free Press
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