Bucktown Family Sues Construction Firm After Flooding Along 606 Trail
(CBS) – It's a double-whammy for some homeowners along the 606 trail. First, they faced the floodwater. Now, they're up against a major Chicago construction firm they say won't pay up for its mistake.
CBS 2's Roseanne Tellez reports.
Brian Anderson says floodwaters burst through the door at his Bucktown home this past July.
Pictures show the waterline—and the damage left behind. With their six-month-old baby asleep nearby, it could have been worse.
"It seems like we barely got to her in time," Dallas Anderson says.
A neighbor's home video shows water cascading down Bloomingdale avenue. When it cleared, residents say the cause was obvious. Drains were covered with mesh by Walsh Construction to keep debris from the sewer, but they kept the water out, too.
Walsh denied the Anderson's damage claim, blaming the city sewer system.
The Andersons' attorney has filed suit against Walsh.
"Mr. Anderson's sump pump was running the whole time. That was able to flow to the sewer. To say the sewers weren't working is just a ridiculous defense," Alexander Loftus says.
Only now packing to return to their home, the Anderson's say the cleanup and renovations have been consuming.
"I think that's been the hardest part, is the loss of our time together as a family," Dallas Anderson says.
Ald. Scott Waguespack agrees with homeowners that Walsh is to blame. He says about 20 families were affected.
The construction company did not respond to a request for comment.