Wyoming - Benteler Automotive Corporation 26-001264 Respondent's Appearance and Answer with Aff Defs (10.1.26) FINAL.pdf
Benteler Automotive Corporation Petitioner Vs. City Of Wyoming Respondent · 26-001264-TT
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STATE OF MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING & REGULATORY AFFAIRS MICHIGAN TAX TRIBUNAL BENTELER AUTOMOTIVE, Petitioner, v CITY OF WYOMING, Respondent. MTT Docket No. 26-001264 Parcel No. 41-17-24-251-002 / Greg Poore BADEN TAX MANAGEMENT, LLC Representative for Petitioner 6920 Pointe Iverness Way, Suite 301 Fort Wayne, IN 46804 (812) 340-3481 gpoore@badentax.com amize@badentax.com Toby Koenig (P72367) BLOOM SLUGGETT, PC Attorneys for Respondent 161 Ottawa Ave NW, Suite 400 Grand Rapids, MI 49503 (616) 965-9340 toby@bloomsluggett.com / RESPONDENT’S APPEARANCE NOW COMES attorney Toby Koenig, of the law firm of Bloom Sluggett, PC, and hereby enters his appearance on behalf of Respondent City of Wyoming in this matter. Dated: October 1, 2026 Respectfully submitted by, BLOOM SLUGGETT, PC /s/ Toby Koenig Toby Koenig (P72367) Attorneys for Respondents City of Wyoming
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2 4925-6627-0677, v. 1 STATE OF MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING & REGULATORY AFFAIRS MICHIGAN TAX TRIBUNAL BENTELER AUTOMOTIVE CORPORATION, Petitioner, v CITY OF WYOMING, Respondent. MTT Docket No. 26-001264 Parcel No. 41-17-24-251-002 / Greg Poore BADEN TAX MANAGEMENT, LLC Representative for Petitioner 6920 Pointe Inverness Way, Ste 301 Fort Wayne, IN 46804 (812) 340-3481 gpoore@badentax.com Toby Koenig (P72367) BLOOM SLUGGETT, PC Attorneys for Respondent 161 Ottawa Ave NW, Suite 400 Grand Rapids, MI 49503 (616) 965-9340 toby@bloomsluggett.com / RESPONDENT’S ANSWER TO PETITION AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES Respondent, City of Wyoming, through its attorneys, hereby submits this Answer to Petitioner’s Petition filed in this matter. (1) Admitted. (2) Admitted. (3) There are no allegations in paragraph 3 of the petition and therefore no response is required. (4) There are no allegations in paragraph 4 of the petition and therefore no response is required. (5) There are no allegations in paragraph 5 of the petition and therefore no response is required. (6) Admitted.
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3 4925-6627-0677, v. 1 (7) There are no allegations in paragraph 7 of the petition and therefore no response is required. (8) There are no allegations in paragraph 8 of the petition and therefore no response is required. (9) There are no allegations in paragraph 9 of the petition and therefore no response is required. (10) Denied as untrue in that the property address is 4011 Stafford Avenue, SW, Wyoming, MI 49548. (11) Denied as untrue in that the applicable local government unit that established the assessment or assessments at issue is the City of Wyoming. (12) Respondent lacks sufficient information and/or knowledge as to Petitioner’s legal residence or principal office address and therefore leaves Petitioner to its proofs. (13) This paragraph merely reasserts Petitioner’s claims to which no response is required. To the extent a response is required, Respondent admits that Petitioner’s claims involve the property’s true cash and taxable values. Respondent denies the remaining allegations. (14) Admitted. (15) There are no allegations in paragraph 15 of the petition and therefore no response is required. (16) Admitted. (17) Denied as untrue. (18) Respondent admits that Petitioner disputes the values based on the allegations in paragraph 17; however, Respondent denies that the subject property is improperly assessed and further denies that Petitioner is entitled to any relief. (19) Paragraph 19 contains a request for relief to which no response is required; Respondent denies that Petitioner is entitled to any relief, requested or otherwise. (20) Denied as untrue. AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES 1. Petitioner has failed to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. 2. Petitioner’s claims against Respondent are barred because the valuation methods used by Respondent comply with the Constitution, state law, and prevailing Michigan State Tax Commission procedures.
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4 4925-6627-0677, v. 1 3. Respondent’s assessment reflects 50% of the subject property’s true cash value and the values on the roll, including the taxable value, comply with MCL 211.27a. 4. Petitioner may not be a party in interest capable of bringing this appeal as to the parcel at issue in this matter. 5. Petitioner’s claims may be barred in whole or in part for failing to allege sufficient facts to invoke the Tax Tribunal’s jurisdiction. 6. Respondent reserves the right to identify further affirmative defenses as may become known through discovery. WHEREFORE, Respondent requests that the Tribunal dismiss Petitioner’s appeal with prejudice and award Respondent its costs, attorney fees, and all such further and additional relief as this Tribunal may deem appropriate. Dated: October 1, 2026 Respectfully submitted by, BLOOM SLUGGETT, PC /s/ Toby Koenig Toby Koenig (P72367) Attorneys for Respondent City of Wyoming PROOF OF SERVICE Tonya Voakes, being duly sworn, deposes and says that she is employed by Bloom Sluggett, PC, and that, on October 1, 2026, she served a copy of Respondent’s Appearance and Answer to Petition with Affirmative Defenses upon Greg Poore by first-class mail and e-mail at the following addresses: Greg Poore Baden Tax Management, LLC 6920 Pointe Inverness Way, Ste 301 Fort Wayne, IN 46804 gpoore@badentax.com amize@badentax.com /s/ Tonya Voakes Tonya Voakes