NEW CASTLE Company sues city over flood damage

The business says damages were in excess of $4.4 million.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- A steel finishing company damaged by flooding is suing the city and mayor.
Ceda Mills Inc. of 902 North Cedar Street filed a lawsuit in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court asking that the city repair storm and sanitary sewers located through, under and adjacent to the building and is asking for damages in excess of $25,000.
The company suffered significant water and sanitary waste damage on Aug. 6, 7, 8 and 26 and Sept. 2, according to the lawsuit.
The court document contends that city officials have known about the obstruction and undersized conditions of the city sewers since the mid-1970s.
Cleanup
Attorney Bruno Muscatello said the company had to shut down operations after the flooding, and cleanup is now under way. He said the business is owned by a corporation, Ceda Mills Inc., and he refused to name its shareholders.
The lawsuit contends that city officials were unresponsive to two letters sent in September asking the city to repair the sewers. One letter dated Sept. 4 contends that flooding caused damages in excess of $4.4 million. The lawsuit states the damages include cleanup costs, repair to equipment and loss of sales.
City Solicitor James Manolis would not comment on the lawsuit, but said many people experienced problems from heavy rains.
"It's not necessarily the result of something the city did or did not do," he said.