MECOSTA COUNTY, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Chen Li, president of Chinese electric vehicle battery maker Gotion, is set to be deposed by lawyers representing Green Charter Township, Michigan. This comes after a federal judge denied Gotion’s request to avoid the deposition.
The legal showdown is part of an ongoing dispute over Gotion’s plans to build a multibillion-dollar EV battery plant in a small mid-Michigan community near Big Rapids.
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The plant, originally hailed as an economic win for the township, has now become a lightning rod for controversy. The newly elected township board revoked a prior resolution granting the plant access to local water, which sparked a lawsuit from Gotion, accusing the township of breaching an agreement. Gotion claims the township’s agreement was legally binding, but the township insists otherwise.
The water fight heats up.
According to WCMU Public Media, Gotion sought to prevent Li’s deposition, alleging the township was using his Chinese nationality to stir fear among residents and saying that he has no unique or extensive knowledge of the plant’s plans as the township has stated. Gotion also argued that the request to depose Li is “an abuse of the discovery process and only serves to harass, annoy, and embarrass Li.”
However, the court disagreed with Gotion and ordered them to not only to allow the deposition but also to hand over critical documents related to the project.
In a court filing, the parties agreed to allow the township to conduct the deposition of Mr. Li per the court’s order with the deposition occurring, if authorized by the court, “within 30 days of the Sixth Circuit order or mandate, or the lifting of the stay.” U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals is currently preparing to hear the township’s appeal of an earlier injunction.
Documents to be provided to township.
According to another court filing, documents to be handed over to the township include “all plans, schematics, drawings, depictions, and renderings regarding the development of the project, whether in draft or final form and whether submitted to a public body or not.”
They also include “all ecological, environmental, feasibility, or economic studies, reports, and analyses regarding the Project of the Project Site.” These environmental reports that are at the heart of the township’s objections. Among the concerns is the plant’s daily water usage – an estimated 715,000 gallons – which also has environmentalists up in arms.
Gotion holds its ground while a battle for Michigan’s EV future looms in court.
Gotion’s legal team remains tight-lipped about the court fight, but the stakes are rising as the court battle continues. For now, Gotion is legally in the clear to continue developing its project, but the war over water – and much more – is far from over.
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