Several Bloomington flood victims threaten lawsuit if city does not pay up

Posted on September 29, 2021

BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington’s city government faces a possible lawsuit from several homeowners who want compensation for cleaning up sewage that contaminated their property during last June’s storms.

Local attorney Will Mahrt told our news partner Heart of Illinois ABC he represents 10 homeowners in the Eastgate neighborhood, and in an area west of downtown near Miller Park.

Mahrt said his clients are seeking anywhere from $10,000 to $70,000 for a total of $310,000, and he said they’ll sue if the city does not make a settlement offer by January 1.

A divided Bloomington City Council was reluctant Monday night to make direct payments to flood victims at least until state and federal funding runs out. Elected leaders opposed to direct aid said the law prevents public money from being used for private purposes.

Mahrt said he disagrees with the city’s “Act of God” argument because it wasn’t flood water that gutted his clients’ homes, noting the overflow of sewage that caused the damage was not an act of God.

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