Section 5-398. Unforeseeable damages; settlement or determination thereof  


Latest version.
  • Whenever the owner of any private property any part of  or  interest  in
      which  shall  have  been taken under any proceeding had pursuant to this
      subchapter shall claim that the prosecution of any work done pursuant to
      such proceeding has been the proximate  cause  of  actual  and  material
      damage  to any part of such property and that commissioners of appraisal
      could not have taken cognizance of such damage pursuant to section 5-387
      of this subchapter, until the actual happening thereof  because  of  its
      unforeseeable   or  speculative  nature,  the  proper  person  or  board
      representing the city may agree with such owner as to the amount of such
      damages. If such agreement cannot be made, such owner may present to the
      commissioners of appraisal his or her claim in writing duly verified  on
      oath.  It shall be the duty of the commissioners to hear allegations and
      proofs and to proceed in like manner as  is  provided  in  the  case  of
      property  taken  pursuant  to  such  proceedings  as  aforesaid  and  to
      determine such actual damages,  if  any,  which  were  unforeseeable  or
      speculative  until  the  actual  happening  thereof.  The amount of such
      damages so agreed upon, if any, or so determined, shall be  payable  and
      collectible in the same manner as is provided in the case of awards made
      through  the  confirmation  of a report of commissioners of appraisal in
      such proceedings. In case at the time of making  any  such  claim  there
      shall  be  no  commissioners  authorized to take cognizance thereof, the
      corporation counsel, for and on  behalf  of  the  city,  shall  make  an
      application  for  the  appointment  of commissioners of appraisal in the
      manner prescribed by this subchapter, to take cognizance of such claims.
      Provided, however, that such claims shall be  presented  in  the  manner
      above  specified  within  two years from and after the completion of the
      work, the prosecution of which is claimed to  have  been  the  proximate
      cause  of such damage and that such claim shall be supported by proof of
      interest in the property alleged to have been damaged and of such damage
      and that it resulted proximately from the prosecution of such  work,  as
      aforesaid,   and  that  it  was  so  unforeseeable  or  speculative,  as
      aforesaid; and that the claim could not, with due diligence,  have  been
      presented  to  prior  commissioners  of  appraisal  subsequently  to the
      happening of the damage. In every case the payment of the amount  agreed
      upon  or determined or adjudged under and pursuant to this section shall
      be a continuing, complete, and conclusive bar to all claim of damage  by
      anyone  whomsoever  to the property concerned or any part thereof due to
      the prosecution of the work.