Illegal sewer tap and property damage

[Jacqueline Smith]

We are hoping to find a real estate attorney that can handle a case involving a trespass in which an  illegal sanitary sewer cleanout and corrugated downspout drains were placed on my property.  The line they tapped into had been abandoned by the city the year before (and was not the approved location). Some how the city dropped the ball and issued a CO to this new construction build. This allowed folks to move in and led to this line rupturing.spilling sewage onto my property for months. The corresponding property damage involves the complete loss of the existing structure w/o the possibility of rebuilding.

We are looking to get into mediation/litigation asap...and are hoping to find a law group that works on contingency in the Raleigh Durham area.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give

[John Underwood]

What makes you think it was illegal?

It is likely part of a right of way and the city approved it. 

Sounds very legal.

Now it does sound like the city made a mistake by approving this and therefore are liable for damage. 

You will need to get the city to freely admit fault or sue them.

Was the damaged property vacant or abandoned? Why did it take 3 months to find the problem? Do you not have proper grading to allow proper drainage away from the structure?

File a claim with your insurance company and let them go after the guilty party. That is why you pay premiums every month.