Dive Summary:
- A lawsuit was filed Tuesday on behalf of 120 homeowners, alleging that the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), and National Grid, which manages LIPA's operations, were responsible for the loss of 150 homes when Superstorm Sandy hit the island last year.
- LIPA and National Grid contend that the call to not cut off power to the Rockaways in advance of Sandy's landing was "reasonable and appropriate," but homeowners represented in the lawsuit believe the decision led to fires and home losses that could have been avoided.
- Keith Sullivan, one of the attorneys who filed the suit in Queens Supreme Court, claimed that damages to the homes exceeded $80 million.
From the article:
... The lawsuit said that while LIPA was vested with the power and authority to distribute the electricity, it passed that responsibility off to National Grid by paying a minimum base of $224 million a year to the U.K.-based company. It said National Grid was required to operate and maintain the electrical transmissions, repair the delivery systems and equipment and to handle LIPA's customer service lines. ...
