Millison sues SLW over lease dispute

Millison Casting Technology, LLC has filed a lawsuit in Sequoyah County District Court against SLW Automotive, Inc., alleging multiple breaches of a lease agreement tied to SLW’s wind-down of operations in Sallisaw and its relocation to Michigan.

The case was filed Dec. 23, 2025. Millison is demanding a jury trial and is seeking monetary damages in excess of $1.6 million, along with punitive damages, attorneys’ fees and other relief.

According to the petition, Millison is an Oklahoma-based limited liability company with its principal place of business in Sallisaw. SLW Automotive is an Oklahoma corporation that, upon information and belief, now operates primarily out of Macomb County, Mich.

The dispute stems from a March 7, 2025, lease agreement under which Millison leased workspace and certain equipment to SLW at a facility located at 1300 S. Opdyke Road in Sallisaw. The agreement covered the period from March 10, 2025, to June 10, 2025, and was intended to allow SLW to wind down its Sallisaw operations while completing its relocation to Michigan.

Millison alleges that under the lease, SLW was required to maintain the premises in good condition, return them in good repair at the end of the term, and remove all materials and waste from the property. The lease also required SLW to keep leased equipment — including six WIA machines, two coordinate measuring machines and two ultra filters — in good working condition and return the equipment fully functional.

In its court filing, Millison claims SLW breached the agreement in several major ways.

Oil waste, property damage

Millison alleges that during the lease term, SLW deposited approximately 200,000 gallons of oil product waste into pits on the premises and failed to remove or properly dispose of it before vacating the property. Millison says a third-party environmental disposal company quoted at least $197,480 to remove and dispose of the waste.

Millison contends it invoiced SLW for those costs and made repeated demands for payment, but SLW failed to pay.

Damaged equipment The lawsuit also alleges that SLW returned leased equipment in damaged condition and failed to make required repairs.

Millison says it ultimately incurred $74,408.66 to repair damage to the WIA machines, $14,840.50 to repair the ultra filters, and at least $11,606 to repair the coordinate measuring machines, based on a third-party repair quote.

Millison claims it invoiced SLW for these costs as well, but that SLW again failed to pay.

Unpaid workers, insurance dispute

Under the lease, Millison also provided workers to perform services for SLW, with all employment-related costs to be borne by SLW. Millison alleges it incurred $46,169.70 in wages and administrative expenses for those workers, and that SLW failed to reimburse those costs despite being invoiced and repeatedly asked for payment.

Another major issue in the lawsuit involves insurance proceeds tied to hail damage to the building’s roof.

The petition states that the roof was significantly damaged in a March 14, 2024, hailstorm, while SLW still owned the property. Under the lease, SLW was required to submit an insurance claim and assign any recovery to Millison.

According to the filing, SLW’s insurer determined on Oct. 15, 2025, that the replacement cost value of the roof was $2,233,111.04 and the actual cash value (ACV) was $1,311,176.49. The insurer paid the ACV to SLW.

Millison alleges SLW was contractually obligated to transfer the entire ACV to Millison, but refused to do so unless Millison signed a release waiving all claims and liabilities under the lease. Millison says it declined to sign such a release, arguing the lease did not condition payment of insurance proceeds on any release and that Millison is also entitled to any additional insurance payment once roof repairs are completed.

Millison claims SLW’s refusal to transfer the ACV constitutes another breach of the lease.

Claims, relief sought

Millison asserts four causes of action: breach of contract, unjust enrichment, equitable lien or constructive trust, and negligence. The company alleges SLW acted in bad faith and with reckless disregard for Millison’s rights.

In total, Millison says it has suffered damages exceeding $1.6 million, and continues to incur additional losses. The company is asking the court to award compensatory and punitive damages, attorneys’ fees and costs, pre- and post-judgment interest, and any other relief the court deems appropriate.

Millison is represented by attorneys Michael L. Carr and Jacob S. Crawford of McAfee & Taft in Tulsa.

No response from SLW Automotive had been filed as of press time.