I used NPR as the reference as an acceptably neutral reporting agency, but they didn’t go back and update the article. The Supreme Court declined to hear the case. https://ij.org/case/lech-v-city-of-greenwood/
This isn’t a caveat. The city wasn’t ever going to rebuild the house for him. Any compensation was always going to be monetary. The fact that he spent more money than he would have gotten isn’t relevant. If someone crashes into and totals your car your replacement car isn’t expected to be equally as old and used as the one you lost. You’re awarded money and can purchase a replacement at your discretion.
The fact that he spent more money is extremely relevant because that’s what he was seeking. It would have been totally reasonable for him to pay for home repairs on the existing foundation and structure.
While the $5,000 the city gave him certainly wouldn’t accomplish that, he took it too far. He destroyed all remaining value left in the structure, built a new (and more expensive) house on his land, and expects the public to pay for that upgrade. He had a right to compensation for repairs, not to have the taxpayer fund the construction of his dream home.
I used NPR as the reference as an acceptably neutral reporting agency, but they didn’t go back and update the article. The Supreme Court declined to hear the case. https://ij.org/case/lech-v-city-of-greenwood/
This isn’t a caveat. The city wasn’t ever going to rebuild the house for him. Any compensation was always going to be monetary. The fact that he spent more money than he would have gotten isn’t relevant. If someone crashes into and totals your car your replacement car isn’t expected to be equally as old and used as the one you lost. You’re awarded money and can purchase a replacement at your discretion.
The fact that he spent more money is extremely relevant because that’s what he was seeking. It would have been totally reasonable for him to pay for home repairs on the existing foundation and structure.
While the $5,000 the city gave him certainly wouldn’t accomplish that, he took it too far. He destroyed all remaining value left in the structure, built a new (and more expensive) house on his land, and expects the public to pay for that upgrade. He had a right to compensation for repairs, not to have the taxpayer fund the construction of his dream home.