A Hazel Crest homeowner claims the south suburban village has repeatedly flooded her basement with sewage, and is asking a Cook County court to order village officials to fix the problem and pay for her the repeated repairs to her home.
Further, the lawsuit claims the village has been unmotivated to fix the problem, because the homeowner is Black, in violation of housing discrimination law.
On Oct. 6, homeowner Deanna Williams filed suit in Cook County Circuit Court against the village and its mayor, Vernard Alsberry Jr.
Sheryl Ring
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According to the lawsuit, Williams’ home has been flooded on multiple occasions since 2005 by sewage from the village’s sewer lines, when village work crews jet the sewer lines to remove clogs caused by grease and tree roots and other debris. On other occasions, sewage has allegedly flowed into her basement as a result of damage to the village’s wastewater system.
According to the complaint, the sewage flows have mounted up to two feet deep in her basement, causing extensive damage each time.
The lawsuit asserts Williams has complained to the village each time, but so far has received no aid from the village. She claims the village has refused to pay for the damage.
According to the complaint, “the Village has taken the position that they can just jet sewage into (Williams’) house at will.” The complaint asserts Hazel Crest’s government essentially treats Williams’ home as a “sewage dump.”
The complaint notes the village has ordered its insurance company to deny a claim filed by Williams. And the village has offered Williams $4,600 to settle all of her claims from the past damage. Williams rejected that offer.
According to the complaint, the village then ordered the installation of a stop flow valve in her home, then allowed the contractor to place a lien on Williams’ home to pay for the work.
“In other words, the village is charging Plaintiff money for its practice of jetting sewage into her home,” the complaint said.
Williams asserts the jetting and flooding has continued in 2022, “because it is less expensive to allow the sewage to flood (Williams’) home and use (Williams’) home as a sewage dump.”
Williams asserts the repeated flooding of her home amounts to an unconstitutional taking of her property.
Further, Williams, who is Black, alleges the village’s actions violate federal fair housing laws. The complaint asserts the village discriminated against her because the village jetted the sewage into her home, but not into the homes owned by white Hazel Crest residents.
Williams is seeking unspecified actual damages, plus punitive damages and attorney fees.
She is represented by attorney Sheryl Ring, of suburban McHenry.
In response to questions from The Cook County Record, Hazel Crest Village Manager Dante Sawyer said the village was “saddened by the allegations and believe the Village will be successful in defending this lawsuit.”
Further, Sawyer responded specifically to the racial discrimination claims: “The Village of Hazel Crest has a residential population comprised of more than 85% people of color. The Village’s work force and elected representatives are also primarily people of color. The Village understands the frustration of any resident that suffers through a sewer back-up; however, the allegation that a community of color would intentionally harm one of its residents on the basis of color (or for any reason) is both preposterous and offensive to the men and women who work hard on behalf of the Village each day.”