Wrong Medicine Killed Husband, Woman Claims In Lawsuit

Accreditation

By CHRISTINA DUBITSKY cdubitsky@leader.net
 Saturday, January 06, 2001 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A 





The Dallas Area Municipal Authority and Harveys Lake Sewer Authority are
going to arbitration next week to settle an 8-year-old dispute over sewer
fees. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Representatives from DAMA and the Harveys Lake authority will meet for a
week beginning Monday with arbitrators, who will make binding decisions on
several claims by each authority. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; DAMA has said the Harveys Lake authority owes close to $500,000 for unpaid
sewage fees from 1993 to 1999. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``Hopefully we can get our money,'' said DAMA Executive Director Thomas
Bagley. ``It's a big liability for us. They don't pay, yet we provide all the
service.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But the Harveys Lake authority board members feel they never signed on to
the type of billing DAMA claims, said the Harveys Lake authority lawyer
Michael Wilson. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The basis DAMA used to calculate fees is meaningless, Wilson said. A 1973
agreement stated DAMA would treat and discharge sewage from the Harveys Lake
authority. But since 1993, Wilson said DAMA has acted only as a pumping
station. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Wilson said DAMA has overbilled the Harveys Lake authority for operation
and maintenance from 1993 to 1999, after DAMA ceased treating the wastewater.
The Harveys Lake authority should be reimbursed between $128,000 to $266,000,
he said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``They've been exclusively billing Harveys Lake for things not to be
charged for under the service agreement,'' Wilson said, citing postage, phone,
legal and unexplained insurance fees. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Wilson said the Harveys Lake authority also claims DAMA took money from a
trust account to pay for a force main project, and allowed other
municipalities to tap into a sewer line that Harveys Lake paid to install. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Despite the counterclaims, Wilson said the Harveys Lake authority does owe
something. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``We know they still have been transporting our wastewater,'' Wilson said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 DAMA is also suing in a separate suit for $181,000 for services provided in
2000. It is also trying shut off the flow of sewage from Harveys Lake. A
hearing is set for March, Bagley said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Christina Dubitsky, a Times Leader staff writer, can be reached at
829-7236. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Arbitrators To Resolve Dispute Over Sewer Fees Dallas Area Municipal Authority Says The Harveys Lake Authority Owes Nearly $500,000.