Zawatski Case Belongs Before A State Grand Jury

2 Evenings Of Thurber 
Dallas High Students Act In Sketches From Humorist Author's Works.

Friday, November 19, 1999 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 16A 





WILKES-BARRE - A Forty Fort man is suing the county and two construction
companies over damage to his property from the Luzerne County levee-raising
project. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Jay E. Sutliff of River Street filed suit on Wednesday against Luzerne
County, the county Flood Protection Authority, FruCon Construction Corp. of
Ballwin, Mo., and Midlantic Piling Inc. of Glen Rock. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; According to the complaint, on Jan. 26, 1998, the county hired FruCon and
Midlantic to raise the dike throughout the county. Sutliff lives alongside the
dike and the Susquehanna River. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 As part of the levee-raising project, FruCon and Midlantic were directed to
install metal pilings on the dike. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 FruCon and Midlantic were negligent because they failed to install the
pilings prudently and used equipment that damaged Sutliff's home because of
excessive vibrations, according to the suit. The suit also alleges they
removed fencing without replacing it and failed to supervise the employees. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Interior and exterior walls, partitions, decks, foundation walls, ceilings,
floors, the driveway and the landscaping were damaged during the construction,
according to the complaint. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Sutliff is seeking more than $40,000 in each of four counts of negligence. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The $147 million federal project will raise the levee between 3 feet and 5
feet, upgrade sewage and storm water pumping stations and demolish two bridges
along the river between Exeter and Edwardsville. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In Edwardsville, a closure structure is being built along U.S. Route 11 at
the Mark Plaza. Officials expect it to be finished by the end of 2002. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Alleged Levee Raising Damage Brings Suit