Comments on: Man Fights City, Settles Pothole Damage Claim

By: cosmonıcan

cosmonıcan — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 03:55:17 +0000

re #7: Seems that is what happens when you have the lowest bidder build a truck highway through an area that geographically wants to be a swamp.

By: George Hammond

George Hammond — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 03:10:25 +0000

I’ve been surprised by how quickly West Huron Street has fallen apart. The right lanes going both ways just seemed to disintegrate. I wonder if the surfacing work was done properly.

By: Edward Vielmetti

Edward Vielmetti — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 03:06:00 +0000

The 99-HOLES number dates from 1975: [link] To help the city lócate the biggest holes in the streets, (Mayor James E.) Stephenson said a special telephone number is being set up for residents to cali in the locations. That number, beginning Jan. 20, is "99-HOLES."

By: Edward Vielmetti

Edward Vielmetti — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 03:03:22 +0000

A 1974 Ann Arbor News clipping: [link] "Ann Arbor apparently can be held liable for damage done to vehicles and persons because of ill kept roads. City Council has learned in a memo from Assistant City Attorney John K. Vanderloon that the city "has a duty to keep its streets in reasonable repair so that they are reasonably safe for public travel." However, Vanderloon added, there is no liability unless the city knew of the defects and had a reasonable time to correct them. Notice of injury or damage' must also be served within 120 days of the injury. The memo was in response to a question from Councilwoman Carol Jones, D-Second Ward. Responding to the memo, Jones asked the attorney's office to define what was meant by fixing defects in a "reasonable" time limit.

By: Jim Rees

Jim Rees — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 02:46:23 +0000

I’m surprised your timeline doesn’t include the 1909 paving of Woodward from Six Mile to Seven Mile, the first mile of concrete paving in the US. I suppose that’s because this story is about asphalt paving, not concrete.

By: Mabelle Kirk

Mabelle Kirk — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 02:18:43 +0000

This is exactly the spot where on a rainy night I landed in this pothole and had a flat tire plus a bent rim. Almost $300 worth of damage. It happened several years ago, but since the area has not been resurfaced the very same hole will appear over and over again. Of course, I wasn’t smart enough to fight city hall in small claims court.

By: TeacherPatti

TeacherPatti — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 23:16:41 +0000

I made a heart shaped pizza last night; it was way yummier than that pothole :) That is pretty cool though!

And yes, small claims court is one of the great equalizers!

By: Mark Koroi

Mark Koroi — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 23:08:29 +0000

Good legal analysis.

More citizens should fight City Hall with FOIA requests and claims in Small Claims court to collect for vehicle damage.

It would lead to greater municipal accountability.