Five and a half years after they were flooded, the lawsuit of more than 50 residents and business owners from West Nyack and River Vale, NJ against United Water New York and United Water New Jersey went to court on Friday. 53 complainants are suing United Water for more than $50 million for flooding on April 15 and 16, 2007.
The case, Raymond W. Stormes, v. United Water New York, Inc. began with opening arguments in Rockland County Supreme Court in New City.
According to the plaintiffs’ attorney, Kevin Mulhearn of Orangeburg, testimony from witnesses and experts including hydrologists is scheduled to begin Monday morning. The plaintiffs claim negligent and/or reckless maintenance of the water companies’ reservoir systems after water was released from the Lake DeForest Dam and Reservoir and Lake Tappan Dam and Reservoir during a severe rainstorm.
West Nyack is built on a flood plan and dam or no dam it is going to flood during storms and there is little UW can do about it.
And you have hit on the real issue, why did Clarkstown give permission to build house and the Palisades Mall on a flood plain in the first place?