Comments by "dbergerac" (@dbergerac9632) on "LegalEagle"
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There IS precedent: Nearly 20 years after police bombed the headquarters of the militant group MOVE, a federal jury on Monday awarded $530,000 apiece to 24 homeowners who were suing the city over the fatal bombing and failed attempts to rebuild.
"Thank the Lord, our day of deliverance has come," said Betty Mapp, one of the plaintiffs. "It took 20 years and now it's over with the city of Philadelphia."
On May 13, 1985, police trying to evict armed members of MOVE from a West Philadelphia rowhouse dropped an explosive from a helicopter. Police then ordered firefighters to keep their distance as flames killed six adults and five children and consumed 61 homes.
Embarrassed city officials promised to rebuild, but the new houses were defective and millions of dollars spent on repairs failed to solve the problems.
After John F. Street became mayor in 2000, he suspended the repair work, declared the buildings too dangerous to live in and offered the remaining families a $150,000 buyout. Although 37 homeowners took it, the remaining 24 sued, and the jury decided Monday to award them more than three times the city's offer.
First Published April 14, 2005, 12:00am https://www.post-gazette.com/uncategorized/2005/04/14/Philadelphia-residents-win-lawsuit-over-MOVE-bombing/stories/200504140218
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