Who sues for damages

[Shoshana Shulman]

My tenant informed me that the sewer was blocked by someone in a house at the end of the block. Since these are attached row homes all the homes basements are flooding. What do i do? I am out of the country. I do not know the people in the house that caused this. My tenant has tenants insurance because i require it. Who sues whom for damages? How to begin?

[Greg Scott]

A lawsuit is never the place to start.  

If the problem has not been resolved, you should first reach out to the city or try to locate the other home owners to get the sewer unblocked.  Otherwise the problem will just get worse. If you don't take steps to resolve it, you are responsible for further damage.

Once you have stopped the bleeding, you should then be reaching out to your own insurance company because your property will need to be cleaned up and that won't be covered by the tenant's insurance.

Figure out the total cost of the damages, what caused the blockage,who, if anyone had responsibility for fixing the issue.  (A blockage caused by a tree or collapsed pipe means there is probably no basis for a lawsuit)  If someon can be held responsible, will they pay for damages?  This process may take many days, weeks, or even months.