LANCASTER -- The owners of property in Lititz are suing Lititz Borough and the Lititz Sewer Authority claiming problems in the water lines caused a sinkhole.
David Gerhart and his wife, Amy, and William Gerhart and his wife, Ann Gerhart, filed the lawsuit Feb 25 in Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas alleging that a broken water main created flooding that caused the sinkhole at the property they own in Lititz.
"On or about Jan. 26, 2016, the underground water main located in the 500 block of West 2nd Avenue in Lititz Borough broke causing water to flow uncontrollably into the surrounding soil," the complaint said.
A resident "was taking his trash outside when a sinkhole approximately 15 feet deep opened 'right by the curb' under the residence causing him to fall in the sinkhole," the complaint said. The water flooded the sinkhole at the house that would be purchased by the Gerharts more than a year later.
Two months after the Gerharts bought the property, in November 2017, borough personnel were "notified of a depression in the paved roadway in the 500 block of West 2nd Avenue, just west of Lemon Street," and determined the depression was caused by another water main break, at the same location as the 2016 one, the complaint said. That water main break infiltrated the ground, forcing the closure of the road for repairs.
"The ground around the water main break was so unstable that the borough's dump truck used for street excavation fell into a large sinkhole that suddenly appeared underneath the vehicle which was parked near the curb," the complaint said.
That new sinkhole was in front of plaintiffs' property and caused damages to a sewer line at their house, which the Gerharts were forced to repair.
In 2018, another water main break took place, causing two sinkholes to appear at the property, the complaint said. The borough allegedly failed to repair the damages that were caused to the house, which also included a flooded basement.
The Gerharts' suit, which alleges negligence, nuisance and continuing trespass, seeks damages in excess of $50,000 plus costs, interests and fees.
The Gerharts are represented by attorneys Melvin Hess, and Julie Slabinsky of Gibbel Kraybill & Hess of Lancaster.