This is the property of the Daily Journal Corporation and fully protected by copyright. It is made available only to Daily Journal subscribers for personal or collaborative purposes and may not be distributed, reproduced, modified, stored or transferred without written permission. Please click "Reprint" to order presentation-ready copies to distribute to clients or use in commercial marketing materials or for permission to post on a website. and copyright (showing year of publication) at the bottom.

Real Property
Inverse Condemnation
Sewer Overflow

Jane Martin, et al. v. City and County of San Francisco

Published: Jul. 27, 2013 | Result Date: Apr. 30, 2013 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |

Case number: CGC-04-436930 Settlement –  $1,748,840

Court

San Francisco Superior


Attorneys

Plaintiff

Mark W. Epstein
(Seiler, Epstein, Ziegler & Applegate LLP)

Douglas A. Applegate

Mark L. Mosley
(Mackenzie & Albritton LLP)


Defendant

Donald P. Margolis
(Office of the City Attorney)

Mark D. Lipton
(Office of the San Francisco City Attorney)


Facts

During a Dec. 13, 2003 storm in San Francisco, a sewer system overflowed, damaging the properties of numerous plaintiffs: Jane Martin, David Baker Linda Kampen, Nicholas Burge, Ellen Abel, Diane Bauer, Mark Boyd, Elaine Choy, James Cordova, Maria Cordova, Susan Garduno, Philip Gong, John Gumas, Linda Ho, Kwok Hong, David Cheung, Vladimar Belfor, Victor Kanevsky, Pat Moore, Tom Moore, Noreen Quimson, Victoria Sanchez, Monte Stott, Joanne Stott, Martin Takigawa, Angela Sinicropi, Cheung Tam, Patricia Ramsey, Devon Disckson, Brenda Dickson, Shonna Cook, Lawrence LaBianca, Sally Seid, Robert Blackner, Jennifer Burke, Celestino Munoz, Aristides Cisneros, Shirley Kollmann, Peggy Kim, Charlie O'Hanlon, Mary Short, Robert Short, 5810-5816 Mission Street Homeowners Association, 5871 Mission Condominium Association, IMG Home Corp, International market Gallery, Stt & Associates, Kroll Furniture, Order Sons of Italy in America, Grand Lodge of California, 2170 Folsom, and KLW LLC (collectively, plaintiffs).

The plaintiffs filed suit against the City and County of San Francisco.

Contentions

PLAINTIFF'S CONTENTIONS:
Plaintiffs argued that the city and county failed to maintain the storm drainage and sewer systems, which caused backup and overflow. As such, plaintiffs claimed San Francisco City and County are liable for inverse condemnation, nuisance, dangerous condition of property, negligence, failure to maintain a public improvement, and trespass.

Result

The parties settled for $1,748,841.


#91463

For reprint rights or to order a copy of your photo:

Email jeremy@reprintpros.com for prices.
Direct dial: 949-702-5390