Man sues Charleston for property damages

CHARLESTON -- A man is suing the City of Charleston after his residence sustained property damage from a blocked storm drain.

On May 17, 2010, the storm drain located along Dartmouth Avenue became blocked and the water that should have been traveling through the storm drain left the confines of the drain, flowed across a neighbor's property and onto Robert Hill's property, according to a complaint filed July 21 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Hill claims the water caused extensive damage to his property, including destruction of an air conditioning unit and retaining wall.

The water escaped from the storm drain due to the dilapidated condition in which the storm drain was maintained by the defendant, according to the suit.

Hill claims the defendant was negligence in maintaining the storm drain in a reasonably prudent manner so as to prevent damage to other persons' property.

The defendant breached its duty by failing to maintain the storm drain and caused the damages done to Hill's residence, according to the suit.

Hill is seeking compensatory damages. He is being represented by Michael J. Del Giudice.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Jennifer Bailey.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 11-C-1208