Woman sues neighbor over flooding

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

A North Jackson woman has sued her next-door neighbor for more than $125,000, saying the usefulness and market value of her property have been degraded because her neighbor flooded her land by changing the slope of his land.

The lawsuit, filed in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court by Kathy Pate of Kirk Road, alleges her neighbor, Nevel Bruce Howard, also of Kirk Road, negligently caused the problem in 2014 by creating an artificial lake on his property, with elevated banks and downward slopes on all sides of the lake.

Because of the flooding, Pate said her mature hardwood trees have been killed by drowning; her septic tank has backed up and failed; and she is no longer able to use her land for cattle grazing.

Howard could not be reached to comment.

The case is assigned to Judge John M. Durkin.