Libertyville Homeowner Gets Stuck With Bill After Village Sewer Line Backs Up

LIBERTYVILLE, IL - A Libertyville homeowner has been left with a hefty bill after raw sewage backed up into her basement in recent weeks -- a problem that village officials admitted was caused after grease got built up in the village’s sewer lines, WGN reports.

The sewage back-up wreaked havoc on Mary Tiegs’ basement, leaving her to pay $8,000 for cleanup costs, according to WGN TV. She estimates she will have to pay another $30,000 to repair her basement.

Her insurer has said since the village is at fault for the damage, they should pay the costs, according to the TV report. But village officials have said they are not legally responsible for the damages.

WGN reports:

But Libertyville’s response says it doesn’t have to because of something called the “Illinois Tort Immunity Act.” The village’s insurer wrote it is “not legally liable for this sudden and unexpected occurrence.”
Municipal law attorney Mike Salvi says government gets a free pass “unless” it can be proven a village like Libertyville “knew” in advance about the problem and “failed” to fix it.

More via WGN News

Photo via Mary Tiegs