WINFIELD – A Hurricane woman blames the city for problems that led to raw sewage flooding her basement.
Barbara Jean Browne filed her complaint in Putnam Circuit Court against the City of Hurricane.
According to the complaint, Browne’s home on Fairview Drive includes a bathroom located in the basement living area. Because of sewage backup into the basement bathroom, the plaintiff and members of her family have asked the city to place a check valve in the home’s sewer line to prevent further back up sewage flooding.
On February 27, 2021, Hurricane received 1 to 3 inches of rain over a 21-hour period causing flooding. The flooding caused the sewer line to back up into Browne’s residence. Raw sewage flooded her basement bathroom and the entire basement.
Browne says the backed up sewage flooding was caused by the city’s recklessness, carelessness and negligence for failing to properly install piping sufficient to safely transport high volumes of sewage at all times and for failing to install a check valve after being on notice of instances where the city’s piping was insufficient. She also says the city failed to adequately inspect the sewage lines, test the sewer system and failed to properly care for the sewer system.
She seeks compensatory damages for remediation of her basement as well as renovation and restoration costs. She also seeks damages for emotional distress, mental pain and suffering, annoyance, inconvenience, attorney fees, court costs and other relief.
Browne is being represented by Jon D. Hoover of Hoover Law in Barboursville.
Putnam Circuit Court case number 23-C-19