Detroit Settles $4M Lawsuit Over Bad Lights

DETROIT (AP) — A company agreed to pay $4 million to settle a lawsuit over thousands of defective streetlights in Detroit, a newspaper reported.

The city sued Leotek Electronics USA last spring, alleging that roughly 20,000 lights were failing. The faulty lights were an embarrassment, especially after Detroit officials had pointed to brighter streets as proof of a turnaround in neighborhood services.

In September, tED magazine’s lightED reported that Detroit city workers had completed the replacement project for the LED streetlights. The city claimed the replacement project cost between $7-8 million dollars, and it wanted lighting manufacturer Leotek to pay for the replacement.

The Detroit News reported Monday that the settlement won’t cover the full cost of replacing the lights. The News said the Public Lighting Authority is spending $3 million to complete the $7 million project.

Leotek must pay $4 million by Dec. 23, according to records obtained by the newspaper.

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said the settlement was fair and that the city was “glad to have this matter resolved.”

Thor Scordelis, general manager of San Jose, California-based Leotek USA, offered a similar statement.

“Leotek worked with PLA to clarify and remedy the situation including field visits, technical assistance and luminaire replacements based on our standard warranty,” Scordelis said, referring to the Public Lighting Authority.

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