The Michigan attorney general on Monday filed a civil lawsuit accusing a Brighton man of running a multi-year scheme to falsify water quality reports for mobile home parks and homeowners associations across the state. The complaint, brought by Attorney General Dana Nessel in Ingham County Circuit Court, targets Brian Powell, president of Douglas Environmental, and alleges violations of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act.
Scope of alleged falsifications
According to the attorney general’s office and investigators from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE), the alleged misconduct spanned roughly six years and produced more than 8,500 instances in which reported water and pollutant measurements did not match actual laboratory results. EGLE’s review says the problematic reports cover routine monitoring that Powell was responsible for submitting on behalf of multiple properties.
- Defendant: Brian Powell, of Brighton
- Company: Douglas Environmental
- Time frame cited: 2019–2023
- Alleged mismatches: more than 8,500 test/report discrepancies
- Counties affected: Shiawassee, Barry, Genesee, Calhoun, Oakland and Hillsdale
Criminal pleas, penalties and upcoming civil action
Earlier this summer Powell pleaded guilty to three counts of forgery and was sentenced to two years’ probation. Douglas Environmental entered a no-contest plea to one count of conducting a criminal enterprise and six counts of forgery and was ordered to pay a $50,000 fine. The new civil lawsuit seeks to hold Powell accountable under state environmental protection laws for the alleged pattern of falsification.
“When individuals cut corners and submit false reports, they are not just breaking the law but also actively putting our families at risk,” Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a statement. “Environmental protections help keep toxic contaminants out of our water, and bypassing these regulations carries severe consequences. My office remains committed to working with EGLE to pursue and hold accountable bad actors who jeopardize the well‑being of Michigan residents.”
Where the alleged errors occurred
EGLE’s investigation identified mobile home parks and apartment complexes in six counties where the discrepancies were found. The complaint and agency findings name the following counties:
| County | Matter |
|---|---|
| Shiawassee | Alleged falsified water testing reports |
| Barry | Alleged falsified water testing reports |
| Genesee | Alleged falsified water testing reports |
| Calhoun | Alleged falsified water testing reports |
| Oakland | Alleged falsified water testing reports |
| Hillsdale | Alleged falsified water testing reports |
Implications for residents and property managers
The lawsuit underscores the role of third‑party testing providers in ensuring safe drinking water for residential communities, especially for mobile home parks and multifamily housing that depend on outsourced monitoring. EGLE regulates reporting and testing requirements to detect contaminants and protect public health; if monitoring is inaccurate or reports are falsified, residents may lack timely notice of elevated contaminants and miss needed remediation.
Local officials and property managers in affected counties should review their own testing histories and communications from EGLE or their water suppliers. Residents concerned about their water should contact EGLE or their local health department to ask about recent test results, standards for contaminants and steps for independent testing.
The civil suit filed July 15 follows earlier reporting and an EGLE probe that began after questions arose about Powell’s submitted results. The attorney general’s action seeks civil remedies under state environmental law in addition to the criminal penalties already imposed.
— Malik Turner, Michigan Correspondent
