SCRANTON – A pair of plaintiffs have sued the City of Scranton, for their alleged failure to inspect or repair a stormwater drainage system that they claim has damaged their property.
Anthony J. Piazza III and Christopher A. Piazza of Scranton filed suit on March 27 in the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas, against the City.
“The City, in ordinary course, has failed to inspect, clean, maintain, upgrade and/or repair the stormwater drainage system, resulting in the damage to plaintiff’s property. As a result of the City’s actions and/or inactions, the stormwater drainage system running through plaintiffs’ property has collapsed. Plaintiffs’ yards and/or driveways have caved in and large, unsafe sinkholes have developed in the rear portions of plaintiffs’ property,” the suit says.
The plaintiffs say these safety hazards have resulted in them not being able to use their garage due to the sinkhole, sustaining erosion damage, a loss of property value.
The plaintiffs allege the defendants are responsible for continuing trespass, continuing private nuisance, negligence, and violations of the Stormwater Management Act 32 P.S. Section 680.1 eq. seq. and the Lackawanna County Stormwater Management Plan.
The plaintiffs are seeking a declaration the defendant is in violation of the Stormwater Management Act; a directive for the city to take all necessary actions to repair the stormwater drainage system and the damages to plaintiffs’ property; other relief as the Court deems equitable and just; plus costs as authorized under the Stormwater Management Act and applicable case law, in this matter.
The plaintiffs are represented by Anthony J. Piazza Jr. of Piazza Law Group, in Dickson City.
Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas case 2017-CV-01923
From the Pennsylvania Record: Reach Courts Reporter Nicholas Malfitano at nickpennrecord@gmail.com