Thousands of homeowners around the Addicks and Barker reservoirs are holding their breath while the first lawsuit against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers goes to trial. The homeowners were unaware their properties were located inside dry reservoirs for the Addicks and Barker reservoirs and allege the Army Corps of Engineers should have never allowed residential development in these reservoirs to take place. The ongoing Hurricane Harvey reservoir damage trial will have a huge impact on not only the ongoing insurance litigation, but also will set an important precedent for the management of dams and reservoirs across the country.
The Addicks and Barker reservoirs are over seventy years old, and since their creation the Army Corps of Engineers has relied on dry reservoirs to hold floodwaters. Most of the time, the reservoirs aren’t holding any rainwater, but in cases of extreme flooding they prevent rainwater from flooding downtown Houston. When the dry reservoirs were created, the Army Corps of Engineers purchased most of the land inside the reservoirs to prevent development; however, they didn’t purchase all of the land and development quickly occurred in these areas. Homeowners were absolutely shocked to learn their homes were located inside reservoirs while watching catastrophic floodwaters inundate their homes.
Because the Army Corps of Engineers failed to secure all of the land inside the reservoirs, homeowners claim the flooding constitutes a violation of the Fifth Amendment, which protects individuals from the unlawful seizure of their property without just compensation. The flooding constituted seizure of their property, so now property owners want their rightful compensation. The case could yield millions of dollars in compensation for home and business owners struggling to rebuild in Harvey’s aftermath.
Representing Hurricane Harvey Victims
Raizner Law is proudly representing Hurricane Harvey victims in both upstream and downstream Addicks and Barker reservoir lawsuits. Our dedicated lawyers are offering free consultations to property owners flooded as a result of the Addicks and Barker reservoirs releases. We only work on a contingency fee basis, meaning there is no upfront cost for working with us, and you won’t owe us anything unless we help you obtain compensation. Call us today to schedule a free and confidential initial appointment.