Manteno citizens plan to amend lawsuit against China electric-vehicle battery maker Gotion. A non-profit group representing Manteno residents is suing Gotion and the Village of Manteno. The plaintiffs will be in court later this month.
Attorney Robby Dube said they are amending the complaint because Gotion switched out the old LLC that owned the property to a new LLC.
"The LLC refiled with a new LLC, perhaps to shuffle corporate entities to ensure Gotion can use the property witjhout having to own the property.," Dube said. He says he has suspicion that Transform Manteno IL LLC held the property as a holding company.
Dube alleges the shuffling of the corporate entities was done to ensure Gotion can use the property without having to own the property.
Gotion is in line for more than half a billion in tax incentives from the state and local governments.
Meantime -- Amanda Piker is originator of the "No Gotion in Illinois" Facebook page. It led a movement to prevent the opening of the plant in Manteno. Piker said an amended brief will include information about 'quarry blasts' detected on the west edge of the village limits.
Piker explains the location of the planned Gotion plant is right where 'slay balls' destroyed the roof of a nearby retailer. Piker also says a Manteno police report in 2019 includes photos showing the quarry blasts led to quite a bit of damage.
94.1 WGFA