Ryan Defends City of Biwabik in Utility Rates Challenge

In April of 2020, Patti Amanda’s Inc. sued the City of Biwabik in St. Louis County District Court, challenging the City and PUC’s method of charging owners of multi-unit properties for public utilities. Plaintiff claimed the City’s decision to change its billing practice in 2014 to a separate flat fee base rate along with metered usage rates for each utility service imposed “illegal utility surcharges” on its property. The District Court ruled in favor of the City, and the Court of Appeals affirmed, noting the City’s authority under Minn. Stat. § 444.075 and found the charges proportionate, fair, and equitable. See Minnesota Cities, May-June 2022 at p.25-26.

Hoff Barry Attorney Shelley Ryan represented the City. Biwabik City Administrator Jeff Jacobson said that Ms. Ryan made the process easy for the City and took a lot of the stress out of being involved in litigation.