PITTSBURGH – A Pennsylvania couple and one of its business tenants are suing a synagogue, alleging that due to improper drainage on the congregation's cemetery, water flowed onto their property and caused extensive damage.
Lisa and Edward Talarico and Remnant City Inc. filed a lawsuit March 6 in the Allegheny Court of Common Pleas against the Shaare Torah Congregation, alleging they had substantial losses due to water damage because the defendant allegedly removed curbing that prevented water from flooding the properties.
The Talaricos and Remnant City allege that sometime before August 2000, Shaare Torah Congregation improperly paved its cemetery driveway. The cemetery property sits at the back of their property. When the Shaare Torah Congregation repaved the cemetery driveway, it allegedly removed a piece of the curb that helped prevent flooding to the properties and did not replace it with any other way to collect or redirect an overflow of water.
In August 2000, a rainstorm allegedly caused “tens of thousands of dollars” worth of damage to the Remnant City business and to the Talarico's residence. There were two more alleged instances of property damage in 2018 as well due to the synagogue's alleged improper paving of the cemetery driveway.
The Talaricos and Remnant City Inc. are seeking compensation for punitive damages, loss of property and legal fees due to the defendant’s alleged negligence. Plaintiffs are represented by Andrew Venturella of McCann Garlan Ridall & Burke of Pittsburgh.
Allegheny Court of Common Pleas case number GD-20-3778