Montoursville Man Sues Ulysses Township, Alleging Harassment, Illegal Search, and Utility Shutoff
Ulysses, Pa. — A Montoursville man has filed a civil lawsuit against Ulysses Township and several township officials, alleging years of targeted enforcement, an unlawful administrative search, and the no-notice shutoff of gas service at his rural Potter County property.
Michael Early claims he purchased and improved property along the 3400 block of State Route 6 West as a private second home for himself, his family, and close friends, according to a civil complaint filed June 4 in the Potter County Court of Common Pleas. Early alleges township officials repeatedly interfered with those plans and violated his due process rights.
The lawsuit names Ulysses Township and township officials as defendants and centers on disputes over zoning, sewage permitting, alleged commercial use, and utility service at the property.
Dispute Over Property Use
According to the complaint, Early says that in or around 2024, Ulysses Township Board of Supervisors Chairman Richard Tobias personally visited the property and told him that permits were not required for planned electrical, plumbing, and gas work.
Early says he relied on that assurance and moved forward with the work. His electrical system was later inspected and approved in October 2025, according to the complaint.
The dispute escalated in April 2025, when the township issued a cease-and-desist letter alleging Early was using the property commercially as a campground. Early denies that claim and submitted an affidavit stating the property was intended only for private residential use.
The lawsuit further alleges the township’s sewage enforcement officer revoked Early’s 2022 sewage permit without proper notice. Criminal complaints were also filed against Early, despite an engineering firm allegedly certifying that the sewage system complied with applicable state code.
Administrative Warrant and Utility Shutoff
Early also challenges a March 27 administrative search of the property. According to the complaint, Zoning Officer Steven Toy and Chairman Tobias entered the property over Early’s objection and posted an administrative search warrant on his door.
Early’s attorneys argue the warrant was constitutionally defective. The complaint alleges the warrant lacked probable cause, failed to identify specific code violations, and referenced 25 pages of supporting material that were not provided to Early until May.
The lawsuit also claims that on April 10, Toy instructed UGI Utilities to shut off gas service to the property without prior notice to Early. Early alleges the shutoff caused temperatures inside the property to fall to 32 degrees.
That same day, according to the complaint, township officials also attempted to have electric service shut off. Early’s attorneys say that effort was stopped only after their immediate intervention. The township solicitor later stated he had no prior knowledge of the shutoff order, according to the complaint.
Selective Enforcement Alleged
Early also accuses the township of selective enforcement. The complaint alleges that a neighboring property owner, identified as a township road foreman, demolished a structure and installed a shed without permits but did not face similar enforcement action.
Early is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, attorney’s fees, and injunctive relief.
Defendants have 20 days to respond after being served with the lawsuit.
Ulysses Township Board of Supervisors declined to comment at this time, according to an email from Township Secretary and Treasurer Jessica Coffed.
