GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Homeowners living near Philadelphia Avenue and Adams Street in Grand Rapids will not be getting help from the city following a water main break in the city's pipes in June.
"It's dangerous. It's just so dangerous, it feels like our lives are in the city's hands," said Larry Gibbs, Grand Rapids resident.
13 ON YOUR SIDE spoke with Gibbs in the weeks and months after the break occurred. He said his home was flooded and infested with black mold due to the water main break. The neighborhood has also seen sinkholes popping up and growing in size.
"It keeps me up all night. That's why I'm not sleeping. It's because I could possibly lose this house due to mold," said Gibbs.
Beyond the mold, as time went on the structural damage to the home became more apparent.
"I could be sleeping and my house could cave in," said Gibbs. "You know, it could cave in at any point. I could be downstairs and have that whole wall cave in."
Gibbs was quoted $80,000 to fix the home's foundation, plus an extra $20,000 for the mold. The total cost of repairs is more than he even paid for the house 11 years ago.
"All my daughter talks about is, 'Dad are we going to lose the home, are we going to lose the house, are we going to lose our house?' And I'm like, 'No, we're going to get new stuff.' 'Well good, because I don't want to leave,'" said Gibbs.
He reached out to the city several times and on Friday he received a letter response from the city, saying they would not be helping him.
The letter reads as follows:
Dear Mr. Gibbs,
Thank you for your patience during this claim process. The City of Grand Rapids Risk Management Office has worked closely with the City Attorney's Office and the Executive Office to evaluate the facts and circumstances of your claim.
Please be aware that under the government Tort Liability Act, MCL 691.1401 et seq, a municipality, such as the City of Grand Rapids, is entitled to stautory immunity for damages to property unless one of six narrow exceptions applies. A break in a water main is not among any of the exceptions.
Consequently, based on our review of law and circumstances surrounding your claim, we have determined that governmental immunity does apply in this case and that the City is not liable for the damages that you have described. We must therefore respectfully deny your claim.
If you have not already done so, we suggest you contact your insurance carrier to verify whether you have any coverage for this loss.
This is the last step in the City's administrative review process, and we will close your file.
Gibbs reached out to his insurance as well after the flooding, they told him that since the flooding was caused by a city water main break and not a natural disaster they can't do much.