suing a metro government

[TMR]

I was wondering if I could get some opinions to help me determine how much I should sue a metropolitan government for.

I had a water main break in front of my house on 3/26/00 and cause over 47,000.00 worth of damage to my home and property.

It was the third time this particular main had broke in less than one year within a 200 yard run of my home.

Governmental tort laws exclude metro from liability when a water main breaks from natural causes.

Metro lied to me and two investigative reporters covering my story (which aired all over the State of Tennessee)they conspired to cover up information about previous incidences of the main breaking previously in front of my house (before I bought it) on 6/12/96. Go look at this web page:
http://tmrpro.com/damage

As we dug further into our investigation, we found out that this particular main doesn't even meet metros own design criteria.

The criteria clearly states that any culdisac must have an 8 inch water main and the main that broke in front of my house (twice) is a 6 inch main.

I ripped a double hernia trying to move my furniture and expensive musical gear in a wild frenzy when the dissaster occurred:
http://tmrpro.com/damage/hernia1.JPG http://tmrpro.com/damage/hernia2.JPG

We are wanting to seek punitive damages and I wanted to get some opinions as to whether I can seek them and how much should I seek.

 

[ALawyer]

A demand for huge punitive damages is ususally a media only event.

In many states one can not even set out the amount in the complaint, but can merely ask for punitive damages according to the proof.

If you have ANY chance of recovering punitive damages from a municipality or others who may be responsible (and that's who I'd look for -- others) I'd ask the lawyer you retain to represent you. (No lawyer and you lose.) Also, if .you have homeowners insurance, your carrier, not you, has the right to sue the culprits for the amount it paid you.

On caution, ask for too much and your appear to be a greedy SOB trying to line your own pockets at the expense of your neighbors.


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