Thank you all for commenting on the last post. It was a thought provoking discussion and it was interesting to get so many opinions from so many different vantage points. I like to toss ideas around while I'm working, and this was my 'think' of the weekend.
We got the last of the foil covered styrofoam over the zip board. It is an amazing product. We were taping the seams, and when we got to the sunny side of the house, the sun was actually radiating back on us. It was noticeably warmer and we were shedding our coats. It is supposed to be warm through the week, so we plan to make use of that. We will install the soffit and fascia unless we need to be involved down the street at the rental with the damaged drain line.
Tim went in to talk to the city on Friday about those damaged waste water lines. The official got angry at him immediately, began to read him the riot act and said that he did not understand why he had to be so combative and unreasonable. Really put him on blast.
Tim was a bit taken aback.
A mistake had been made. Our neighbor has called three times threatening legal action against the city. Words have been exchanged. They claim to have a lawyer who said 'x' and 'y' and the city official said he wanted the documentation because it did not sound right to him. The subject was changed. The official asked for the name of the lawyer. His request was refused.
The city official thought that Tim was the neighbor and apologized profusely when he realized his mistake.
Tim then talked to the plumber. They've received several calls threatening legal action as well.
The only ones that they haven't threatened with a lawsuit is us, not yet anyway, but we all have a meeting tomorrow afternoon. The city, the plumber/excavator, us and them. I cannot believe this is turning into such a debacle. If we had inadvertantly caused damage to our neighbor, we'd feel duty bound to do whatever we had to do to make things right, and we'd want to do it as quickly as possible. I guess that this does not hold true for everyone.
We did a little online reasearch and noted that they have a long history of suing and being sued. Reassuringly, they have lost virtually all of those cases.
Meanwhile, our poor tenant gamely assures us that she's fine and doesn't need a hotel room.
We have never had to sue before, but it looks like there is no way around this. Tim is really upset. He's right: it IS ridiculous, and it is unfair, but I reminded him that we've dealt with 'ridiculous' and 'unfair' before. We'll just deal with it once more.
This too shall pass.
They obviously have never heard of the saying of about using honey to attract results. Fortunately, I don't hear of too much such things going on here though I suppose it is because I have my head in the sand. I'm sure there are frivolous lawsuits here too.
ReplyDeleteThe thing is, digging would occur slightly on their property. The piping was installed by the city a hundred years ago. They are saying that we cannot dig on their property or they will sue. (The property is now an empty lot). I believe that they believe that if we cannot dig up the pipe, we cannot prove damages, which lets them off the hook liability-wise. If we completely reroute the pipe, it will be insanely expensive, requiring the a new hook up into the existing system. We didn't install the original system. The city made it that way. We're just trying to fix the problem. No one has even mentioned 'lawsuit' to them. I believe since they're so litigious themselves, they expect it. It's crazy.
DeleteSelfish entitlement and a "just don't care" attitude seems to be the way of the world these days.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe that I'll ever understand it. The man had already given permission to dig.
DeleteSome people are just always right, even when they're wrong!
ReplyDeleteThese are very unreasonable people, and they've had problems with everyone on that end of the street. Blocking the removal of a large dead tree because they refused to allow the truck to drive between their house and the neighbor having the tree removed. Their dog jumped through a window and attacked a woman walking down the sidewalk. Front porch covered in junk, but exempt because 'they know a guy...' Just unreasonable, irresponsible people all the way around.
DeleteHope the meeting settles it and you can get this problem fixed. How frustrating!
ReplyDeleteWhat a nightmare..hope the meeting can put everything straight
ReplyDeleteRather shocking mix up when the city gets the owner wrong. I hope you get this sorted out .
ReplyDeleteI think I understand the situation better now after reading the comments.
ReplyDelete"Asshats" would seem to be an understatement in describing these people. Will be interesting to see how the meeting turns out. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteI wonder what makes people so litigious, especially if they haven't had much success. Do they think everyone out there is trying to cheat them, blame them or do them a disservice?
ReplyDeleteThey did not initiate a lot of the lawsuits. They have a pretty bad habit of not paying their bills.
DeleteI feel like I have missed a chapter here, but get the gist. Obviously they missed the back scratching lesson in the good neighbour guide.
ReplyDelete