Town Found Liable in Sarah's Trace Case

The jury in the Sarah’s Trace case has reached a verdict.

The town of East Greenwich was found liable for damages caused to homes in a residential development near Archie R. Cole Middle School, the jury concluded Wednesday, and the town will now have to pay $80,000 to each of the three homeowners who filed suit against the town alleging damage caused by school construction.

The verdict was announced on Twitter by Independent Newspapers shortly after it was read in the courtroom.

The lawsuit, filed in 2011, alleges that construction activity caused cracks to the foundations and walls to their houses and other structures during the construction process between 2009 and 2011.

The lawsuit was filed by residents Susan and Christopher Lamendola, along with residents Keith and Wendy Amelotte and Thomas Hogan and Cynthia Pelosi, who claim their houses should be assessed with no value and seeks damages and payment of legal fees.

Last week, Superior Court Judge Bennett Gallo granted motions to dismiss claims against six of the defendants, including the project architect, an engineering firm, Gilbane Building Company, the contractor and several subcontractors.

That left the jury to consider just the nuisance claims against the town.

During the two-week trial, residents testified that the construction caused violent, earthquake-like shakes to their homes.

The town settled a dispute over taxes and legal fees with the homeowners last year.

A copy of the ruling will be posted soon.