Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Victorious


We finally had our night in court with the McMansion owners and...WE WON!!!!! They will pay for flooding our basement. After almost a year, victory is ours.

Last October the lord of the house next door cut the electrical service between his house and ours so he could put in his own service. Only, he never had this okayed by Con Edison and his contractor left an open pipe in the ground. When it rained, the water poured into our basement.

First time in court, we had to postpone as we didn't have all our estimates and we didn't have the Con Edison report saying they were guilty. After that, the lord next door postponed. Then, he got his insurance company involved. They brought a lawyer to small claims court. The arbitrator didn't like the lawyer, thought we were right, but the lawyer asked for a postponement so it was granted. Next, the lord sued the contractor and the electrician who did the work. We amended our suit and sued them also. Tonight, everyone was ready (except the lawyer). Before the lawyer could speak, everyone agreed to arbitration. The arbitrator said we were right and the only issue was to decide which of the three would pay. The lawyer was furious. He tried to appeal. You cannot appeal the decision of an arbitrator. He told my husband to go f**k himself. (Not a very professional thing for a lawyer to say.) I think we will report the lawyer to the insurance company. Victory is sweet. I'm going to enjoy spending this money.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's amazing what passes as good construction these days. If I ever have to remodel or build, I am going straight to "This Old House". I trust all thse guys.

So did all parties involved have to pay you or just McMansion's insurance company.

And why would a lawyer get upset with your husband??? They get paid win or lose.

Anonymous said...

Between this personal victory and your newly minted thermostat in your trailer, you might be exhausted from all the wild celebrating. Mazel Tov on a sweet victory worth waiting for. Sometimes, justice does prevail!!

Anonymous said...

Report the lawyer to the Bar Association.

Anonymous said...

Of course, it's unprofessional for him to say such a thing, but I would have laughed in his face. He lost it. This would not be a source of offence to me but a source of amusement.

I wouldn't report him, I would roll my eyes at him.

Anonymous said...

My friend had a classroom with a locked thermostat and it was often cold in his room. He got no relief or heat from the custodian.

He took a piece of foam with a hole cut to fit over the thermostat. He kept it in a refrigerator and put it on the thermostat whenever he needed heat.

Pissedoffteacher said...

That's a great idea. Maybe I'll keep an ice pack in my car.

JUSTICE not "just us" said...

"Parabens" as we say in Brasil!

proofoflife said...

You go girl!