A pregnant woman began experiencing contractions after a township manager denied her family's request to build a vinyl fence around their home to protect their son with ADHD from wild turkeys - and made a very unorthodox suggestion, a lawsuit alleges.
Andrew and Natalie Main were allegedly told they should consider barricading their disabled son in a 'temporary dog enclosure' instead of erecting a fence around their Michigan property.
The startling response to the family's problem was issued by John Roda, the Township Environmental Manager in West Bloomfield Township, a lawsuit reviewed by the Daily Mail stated.
After hearing the odd suggestion, Natalie, who was 38-weeks pregnant, 'became distressed and began having contractions,' the lawsuit detailed. It is unclear if she went into labor afterward.
Andrew, 34, and Natalie, 30, purchased a four-bedroom, three-bathroom home in the quaint Detroit suburb in June 2024, and immediately hired a fencing company to erect the vinyl perimeter for their child with disabilities, the lawsuit said.
Because their son, named only as 'A.M.' in the filing, has a 'history of attempting to run away,' the mother and father made sure they were not restricted from adding a fence around their yard, per the filing.
After reviewing the home's appraisal and seller disclosures, speaking with their Homeowners Association (HOA), researching plat maps, and contacting a township clerk, it became clear to the Mains that they had the green light to add the fence, the lawsuit detailed.
Shelby Fencing, the company they hired to make their dreams come true, then submitted a fencing application with the township - but everything started to crumble.
Roda told the fencing business that the Mains' property was home to 'regulated woodland' and potential 'wetland' that would be effected if the fence was built, the suit detailed.
Andrew and Natalie Main purchased a four-bedroom, three-bathroom home in the Detroit suburb in June 2024, and immediately hired a fencing company to erect a vinyl perimeter around their backyard so their son with ADHD could enjoy the outdoors safely
The couple (pictured), who share four other children together, were started to prepare for a fence on their property when John Roda, the Township Environmental Manager in West Bloomfield Township, denied their permit request
The couple tried to fight it, telling Roda about their son's disabilities, but in return, the township employee told Andrew that they should think about erecting a dog pen structure 'while the permit application were pending,' Roda said, according to the lawsuit.
Roda said the only way a fence could be built on their property is if they 'obtained an approved approved environmental permitting with proper site plan development', and attended a public meeting on the issue.
The stall in the plan has caused a lot of anxiety for the family, who state that without the fence, a series of dangerous things could happen to their son.
If their son ran away, he 'would be at risk of serious physical harm,' which includes dangers like being confronted by wild turkeys, coyotes, 'large dogs tethered on neighboring properties', and water hazards, the filing claimed.
Now without the fence, which was recommended that the family install by one of their son's treating physicians, it is 'dangerous for A.M. to play outside,' the suit stated.
After being told by Roda that their fencing permit is pending authorization, Andrew and Natalie, who share four other children together, continued to challenge the issue.
Natalie emailed Roda, requesting information on the mapping he said was required for permits, and a little while later, he called her back to discuss the topic further, the lawsuit said.
During that conversation, Roda told the mother that the fence is only allowed to be in the backyard, and that 'wetland delineation would be required even if the Mains wanted to install a significantly smaller fence that avoided any protected areas,' the 57-page legal document stated.
Roda (pictured) told the fencing business that the Main's property was home to 'regulated woodland' and potential 'wetland' that would be effected if the fence was built, the suit detailed
Further, Roda explained that he was 'confident' that the wetland he spoke of 'had expanded,' meaning a 'boundary would need to be established.'
After more discussion together, Roda showed up at the Mains' home to take a look at the property for himself so he could conduct the delineation as 'a favor' to the husband and wife, the suit said.
While he was there, Roda told the couple that he understood why they thought the area was not a woodland, 'because it appeared to be clear,' but as he took a closer look, the township manager's opinion changed, the filing claimed.
Roda soon noted a couple things that stuck out to him, including the hill in the yard that 'seemed artificial' to him, and the wooded area of their yard that was 'covered in debris' and 'completely disturbed,' he said, per the lawsuit.
He went on to quiz the Mains about them having had landscape work done, but Andrew told Roda that was not the case.
Instead, what Roda saw 'was weathered and dirty, and appeared to have been present for a long time,' the lawsuit said.
Because of his further discoveries, Roda said there were now 'multiple violations' on the family's property.
The Mains went on to put in a second application for a fence, but that was rejected in April 2025 due to it being 'incomplete as received,' the lawsuit revealed.
After Roda told Andrew (pictured) that the couple should consider building a 'temporary dog enclosure' for their son with disabilities, Natalie, who was 38-week pregnant at the time, went into early labor, the lawsuit claimed
The couple then made sure to comply with all application requirements before submitting a third one, and even 'met with Mr. Roda, the Township’s legal counsel, and a Township engineer on May 1, 2025,' to do so, the filing detailed.
A third rejection came in November, with Roda stating their application was, again, 'incomplete as received.'
At this point, the couple have exhausted nearly all avenues to work with the township to get the fence they want, with all parties reaching 'an impasse,' the legal filing said.
They have demanded a jury trial, according to the lawsuit filed on May 1, 2026.
When contacted by the Daily Mail, Andrew said his wife would be best to comment on their legal battle. She has been contacted individually for comment.
Alana Knox, the township's attorney, declined to discuss the lawsuit, telling The Detroit News: 'The township has no comment on the lawsuit you referenced as it has not been properly served.'
While he was on the couple's property, Roda (pictured) told them that he understood why they thought the area was not a woodland, 'because it appeared to be clear'
The Daily Mail attempted to speak to Knox, but her assistant said she declined to comment as well.
It is unclear what Knox meant by the lawsuit not being 'properly served.'
A spokesperson with West Bloomfield Township told the Daily Mail: 'The township does not comment on pending litigation.'
The Daily Mail also contacted Roda and the couple's lawyer, Kathryn Gaisor, for comment.