GROSSE POINTE PARK, Mich. – More than 100 homeowners have signed on to be part of a class-action lawsuit against the city of Grosse Pointe Park. Those residents want legal solutions for damage after flooding caused sewage to back up into their basements.

The complaint was filed one week ago in Wayne County Circuit Court. City officials said they had no choice but to turn off the storm pumps to avoid damaging transformers and other equipment. They said that's why people got sewage in their basements.

But that answer isn't good enough for the residents, who attended informational meetings Tuesday night to better understand what caused the mess. They also learned what legal rights they have against the city.

Phillip Bazzo, the attorney filing the class action lawsuit against Grosse Pointe Park answered questions and explained the benefits of joining in on the litigation.

"People are entitled to know what happened," Bazzo said. "They were told back in the late 1990s that this sewer system is a separated sewer system. People in Grosse Pointe Park spent $21 million separating the sewers, when in fact it's not separated."

Tom Caulfield said he had more than 20 inches of sewage in his basement.

"(The flooding) ruined everything," Caulfield said. "Furnace, water heater, washer, dryer, refrigerator, freezer, everything gone. It was all completely furnished."

The next step is to get the city to answer the complaint, but also to try to prevent it from ever happening again.

The city has yet to speak publicly to the residents about what happened. Residents are hoping to hear something at the next city council meeting, which is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday at City Hall.

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