Couple files lawsuit to prevent demolition

WARREN -- A Niles couple has held off the demolition of their fire-damaged house at 163 S. Cleveland Ave. by filing a lawsuit.
The couple is asking the city's Housing Maintenance Code Board of Appeals to give them time to hear a decision on a federal lawsuit against their insurance company.
Judge Andrew Logan of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court agreed last week to grant a temporary restraining order to halt an order from the city to demolish a house owned by Carol and Derrick Scott of Perkinswood Boulevard Northeast, Warren.
The appeals board ruled Dec. 1 that the Scotts needed to demolish the house and the attached garage in 30 days or the city would demolish it for them and charge them for the costs. The Scotts filed suit in common pleas court later in December, appealing the decision.
Judge Logan said his ruling will give the Scotts time to resolve a pending insurance claim in a federal court, in which the Scotts are suing their insurance company over terms of their homeowner's insurance policy.
A hearing has tentatively been set for July 27 in Judge Logan's court to decide whether to grant a permanent injunction in the case.