Resident sues Oregon over basement damage

2/26/2004

An Athens Road resident whose basement was damaged last year when a sewer got clogged has filed a lawsuit in Lucas County Common Pleas Court against the city of Oregon.

James N. Muranyi of 833 Athens claimed that the city took responsibility when about three feet of sewage backed up into his basement on March 20, 2003.

He said the city indicated that it would take care of the damage to his basement.

However, the city notified Mr. Muranyi in October that it would not accept liability for the costs to repair the basement. Mr. Muranyi is asking for damages in excess of $25,000.

The case has been assigned to Judge Ronald Bowman.

Oregon Administrator Ken Filipiak said that the city was not at fault for causing the sewer to backup into the plaintiff s basement and was not responsible for compensating Mr. Muranyi for the damages.