View Letter to Corporation Counsel with attachments
View Letter to Con Edison

New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. today called on the City’s Corporation Counsel to sue Consolidated Edison Company of New York for $300,000 in costs incurred while cleaning up a massive Washington Heights water main break.

Thompson, in a letter sent today to City Corporation Counsel Michael Cardozo, explained that Con Edison has rebuffed his efforts to reimburse the City for costs amassed when repairing the water main and surrounding infrastructure. The break occurred at Amsterdam Avenue and 178 th Street at 1:20 p.m. on Oct. 16, 2003.

“My office attempted to settle this matter,” Thompson added. “However, Con Edison has denied any liability for damages resulting from the water main break. I am therefore forwarding this matter to you for legal action.”

Thompson maintains that, based on a preliminary estimate, Con Edison should pay the City approximately $300,000 in costs and related expenses incurred by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and other City agencies that assisted the DEP in cleaning up the site.

On Jan. 22, Thompson’s office filed an “affirmative claim” against Con Edison, seeking reimbursement. Con Edison has rejected that claim. During Fiscal Year 2004, Thompson collected more than $1 million in affirmative claims filed against 456 individuals and businesses that damaged City property. Previously, the office collected $577,690 on 231 claims in Fiscal Year 2003 and $523,769 on 149 claims in Fiscal Year 2002.

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