Prosecutor to look into house flooding responsibility


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After two weeks of Butler County's insurance carrier rejecting his claim for damages caused by a Jan. 28 water main break near the roundabout at Kyles Station and Yankee roads, a Liberty Twp. resident was told that a claims adjuster would be stopping by his home on today.

However, Doug Mulcock was told not to expect anything from the representative from the County Risk Sharing Authority, or CORSA, because they have denied the claim. The representative told him Wednesday that Butler County is taking another look at this matter where his Kyles Station Road bi-level home was flooded as a result of a water main break near the roundabout with Yankee Road.

The water damaged the lower level where his family room, which was remodelled two years ago, utility room and adjacent garage, where a car, motorcycle and other equipment was stored.

According to the county Water and Sewer Department, an estimated 577,000 gallons was lost as it went down the road. Mulcock’s home and another bi-level home were damaged by the water loss.

Earlier in the week, CORSA advised the Butler County Commission that they rejected both property owner’s claims saying that the county was not liable for the damages as result of the 8-inch water main break. The commission then requested that Prosecutor Michael Gmoser to become involved with issues surrounding the water main break and subsequent flooding of two houses in Liberty Twp.

County Administrator Charles Young said Gmoser agreed to begin developing information related to the water main break and to pursue the matter of liability and coverage to a higher level with CORSA. Gmoser agreed to follow up on the matter, Young said.

Mulcock, a West Chester Twp. firefighter, said he had been told earlier this week that CORSA advised the county commission that they had denied the claim twice saying the county was not liable for damages at his Kyles Station Road bi-level home.

Mulcock found out his homeowner’s policy didn’t cover an estimated $50,000 in water damage. However, his car insurance covered the damage to car that was in the garage. Even before the claim was denied, he was required to sign a form to protect the property from any further damage.

Since the water main break, Mulcock’s family, friends and colleagues have been pitching in to help such as lending his wife and son, who are also area firefighters, a washer and dryer as well as other things.

Mulcock said he had to get a loan to replace the furnace that was damaged in the flooding. He said the new furnace was installed Wednesday. Since the water main break, Mulcock had used space heaters to remain warm during this recent stretch of cold weather.

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