I can't decide if I want to pursue a lawsuit for them to turn water back on (and possibly lose) or if I want to eat the money for several months and hope there's water below me.

I realize the owner can be removed from the lawsuit but that takes time.

In Reno, NV we have newbuilds that're called "Next Gen" that have a separate in-law suite (w/ out a stove to adhere to SF zoning). 

I am in a position where adding a mother-in-law suite to my primary residence in the Pickerington area seems very likely.

The reason I’m looking into using llc is because it’s a commercial property with 5 units so there is significantly more liability with tenants and their customers and if there ever was a lawsuit I’d like there to be an llc.

you won't be able to pull a permit. when someone lives in it and it doesn't have HVAC, plumbing, or electrical right and it burns down like another garage I tore down and someone lost their life in linden you'll get hit with a lawsuit. good luck. you'll also be the first person I've ever seen to get a second adu built in linden.

Fighting a lawsuit is EXPENSIVE for the insurance company as well.

Your current setup doesn't really keep your business and personal assets/dealings separate.To do so, you'd need to transfer those properties to an LLC you own or create a new one for that purpose.If there is a lawsuit, I'd imagine that your name, as the owner,  would appear in the documents filled.Just my 2 cents, I am not an attorney, nor a CPA

I also look for lawsuits and see what happened in them.

Bro, the class action lawsuit is going to give people who file like $13.The only thing changing post August 17th is 1 sentence being added to that listing agreement that says, probably in bold ..."