Judge ruled it is too early in the case to keep records sealed over toxic land

SHELBY TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WXYZ) - A Macomb County judge ruled this morning that it is too early in case to rule on Ford Motor Company's request to keep records related to a contaminated property in Shelby Township sealed from the public.

Macomb County Circuit Court Judge Richard L. Caretti said because it is not clear what records Ford will want to keep confidential in the case, no protective order is necessary.

The 7 Action News Investigators broke the story of this legal battle between Shelby Township and Ford over contaminated land that the auto maker once owned before selling it to a developer. Some homes have been built on land adjacent to the contaminated property.

Some of the records in the case include environmental studies that show the land contains toxic material that could be harmful to the public.

Shelby Township lawyers argued at a hearing before Caretti to keep the records related to the lawsuit public.