EDWARDSVILLE — Granite City is suing MCI Communications Services, alleging its sewer line was damaged by a fiber optic cable.
Granite City filed a complaint Aug. 13 in the Madison County Circuit Court against Josh Luechtefeld & MCI Communications Services Inc., alleging damage to real property.
According to the complaint, Luechtefeld was a contractor for MCI Communications Services in Basking Ridge, N.J. Granite City alleges that in May 2019, Luechtefeld was conducting an excavation for MCI Communications Services near a portion of the city's sewer line on Pontoon Road. The city claims it noticed "an abnormal surface depression" near the site where Luechtefeld had been working due to a fiber optic cable boring through the sewer line. The city alleges the line collapsed and filled with sediment which "blocked essential storm water flow." The city claims the repair cost for the damaged sewer line was $151,097.14.
In its complaint, the city claims MCI Communications Services and Leuchtefeld's "unlawful intrusion and destruction" of their sewer line.
The plaintiff seeks monetary relief of $151,097.14 and all other just relief. It is represented by Ryan Robertson, Granite City's assistant city attorney.
Madison County Circuit Court case number 20-L-001159