HERMITAGE Residents seek insurance from city liability carrier

About 50 people filed claims of sewage backup totaling about $100,000.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- A number of city residents who suffered sewage backups in their homes during a heavy June rainstorm want the city's liability insurance carrier to cover some of their damages.
The company, Inservco, has so far refused, contending the flooding was basically an act of God and that the city bears no responsibility for the damage it caused, said city Manager Gary Hinkson.
About 50 residents have filed claims for losses not covered by their homeowner's insurance, he said, noting the claims run from hundreds of dollars to as high as $10,000. The total is about $100,000, he said.
The claimants say it was a malfunction of the city's sewer system that caused the damage in their homes in the areas of Pleasant Drive, Donald Road, Sunset Boulevard and Easton Road.
One of those with a claim, Mary Armbruster of Pleasant Drive, attended a city commissioner work session Thursday to ask what action residents can take to further pursue their claims.
She said she had $5,000 worth of homeowner's insurance, but her losses were a lot higher.
Sewer backups
The flooding wasn't new, she reminded city officials, pointing out the area has had sanitary sewer backups in the past.
Bill Scanlon, president of the board of commissioners, said the city has done some sewer improvements in the area before and thought the problem had been corrected.
Thomas Kuster, city solicitor, said the city has to follow its insurance company's lead in this matter and that the company is reviewing each claim on a case-by-case basis.
Hinkson said the insurance carrier has indicated that residents can appeal its decision, and he advised Armbruster and others to write detailed letters to the company explaining the problem and their losses.
The city will provide them with any information they need, Hinkson said.
Armbruster also asked about the status of black flow preventer valves the city has said it would install free of charge in the affected homes to avoid future backups.
Scanlon said that work still has to be put out for bid.
gwin@vindy.com