Eckberg Lammers Litigation Team Prevails in Blaine v. Lexington Water System Dispute- Landmark Decision Brings Clarity to Twin Cities Water Governance

The litigation team at Eckberg Lammers is proud to announce a pivotal legal success in the highly anticipated case of City of Blaine v. City of Lexington, marking a pivotal moment for municipal water governance across the Twin Cities metro.

In a decision issued last week by Judge Jenny Walker Jasper of Anoka County District Court, the court ruled in favor of the City of Blaine, affirming the city’s right to separate its municipal water system from that of the City of Lexington. The ruling also confirms that Blaine holds ownership of a critical water main located within Lexington’s boundaries.

This outcome follows over 40 years of concern by Blaine officials regarding the safety and integrity of the shared water system. For decades, Blaine has sought to sever ties due to repeated instances of water contamination traced to Lexington’s infrastructure and practices.

“Judge Jasper’s decision brings long-overdue clarity to the issue of municipal water rights and reinforces the responsibility of cities to maintain safe and independent public utilities,” said Kevin Sandstrom, shareholder at Eckberg Lammers and lead litigation counsel for the City of Blaine. “We are proud to have helped Blaine protect its residents and infrastructure through this important legal outcome.”

The case, filed in 2022, represents a collaborative effort by Eckberg Lammers’ municipal and litigation teams, who worked closely with city leadership to protect public health and ensure future infrastructure autonomy.

This ruling not only resolves a decades-long dispute but may also set precedent for how neighboring cities manage and separate shared public utility systems going forward.

Click here to read the full Star Tribune Article.

About Eckberg Lammers, P.C.

Founded in 1949, Eckberg Lammers, P.C. is a fixture in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. With offices in Stillwater, Bloomington, Oakdale, and Hudson, our attorneys serve clients throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin across a wide platform of practice areas. Our mission is to Build and Strengthen Communities through long-term relationships with municipalities, financial institutions, business and individuals to creatively solve legal needs.