Couple sues Granite City over raw sewage back-up

A Madison County couple says they became sick after raw sewage backed into their basement.

Terry and Amy Taylor filed a lawsuit Aug. 17 in Madison County Circuit Court against Granite City.

The Taylors say raw sewage backflowed through Granite City's sewer system into the basement of their home on Sept. 14, Jan. 10 and July 7, 2008.

"More specifically, the raw sewage in Plaintiffs' basement caused the basement to be filled with excrement, human waste, toilet paper and other waste materials and filth, caused noxious odors that caused Platiniffs to be unable to use their basement, has created a hazardous condition in Plaintiffs' home, and has caused Plaintiffs to suffer sickness and personal injury," the suit states.

The problem has caused the Taylors to endure discomfort and annoyance, to incur costs for the necessary cleaning and sanitization of their property and to incur remediation and repair costs.

"They have suffered damage to articles of personal property with great sentimental value," the suit states.

In addition, the Taylors' home has been depreciated and the couple has been denied the comfortable use of their property, the complaint says.

"Defendant had actual notice of the problem in reasonably adequate time prior to Platiniffs' damages to have taken measures to remedy or protect against such condition," the suit states. "Defendant knows, and has known for several years, that the Sewer System that services Plaintiffs' home is prone to backups. Such a backflow of raw sewage doe not normally occur in the absence of negligence in the operation of the Sewer System."

In the four-count suit, the Taylors are seeking a judgment of more than $200,000, plus costs and other relief the court deems just.

Hrant "Hud" Norsigian Jr. of Norsigian Law Office in O'Fallon will be representing them.

Madison County Circuit Court case number: 09-L-860.