A proposed class-action lawsuit filed by Allen Legal Group accuses Northern Indiana Public Service Company of negligent vegetation management that allegedly caused or contributed to repeated power outages across Northwest Indiana, including the widespread outage following storms on August 11.
The lawsuit seeks to represent Indiana residents who suffered personal injury and/or financial harm because of alleged negligent vegetation-management practices that caused or contributed to power outages on and after August 17, 2024. The proposed class has not yet been certified by the court.
According to the complaint, NIPSCO allegedly failed to adequately manage trees and other vegetation around its electrical transmission and distribution lines. The filing alleges the company failed to identify and remove hazardous trees, maintain adequate clearance around power lines, properly inspect poles and lines for vegetation issues and adequately oversee vegetation-management contractors.
The complaint also alleges NIPSCO failed to follow cycle-based vegetation-management practices, properly document vegetation work and conduct inspections consistent with utility-industry standards. The plaintiffs characterize the alleged conduct as negligent and, in some instances, willful and wanton.
The filing specifically points to the August 11, 2026 outage, alleging approximately 317,000 NIPSCO customers — nearly 60% of the utility’s electric customers — lost power. The complaint alleges that outage was the culmination of a broader pattern of vegetation-related outages dating back to 2024.
One plaintiff alleges an oral surgery underway on August 11 had to be stopped because of the outage. According to the complaint, the plaintiff was discharged without adequate pain control, post-operative care was delayed and physical and emotional pain followed. The complaint also alleges the plaintiff lost perishable household goods during the outage.
Other plaintiffs are alleged to have suffered economic loss, physical pain, emotional pain or mental suffering connected to the outages. The amended complaint does not individually detail the alleged damages of each plaintiff.
The lawsuit further alleges NIPSCO prioritized profits for investors and shareholders over uninterrupted electrical service and customer safety. That allegation, along with the other claims contained in the complaint, has not been proven in court.
The lawsuit asks the court to certify the case as a class action and seeks compensatory and punitive damages, court costs and other relief determined appropriate by the court. No specific dollar amount is listed in the complaint.
A jury trial has also been requested.