Legal drama continues between Fayetteville and HOAs over damaged private dams

Good morning. A legal drama spanning nearly seven years between the City of Fayetteville and four homeowners associations with private dams that breached during Hurricane Matthew shows no sign of stopping, as the city rejected a settlement offer from the plaintiffs last week.

As Evey Weisblat reports, when Hurricane Matthew tore through Fayetteville in 2016, it damaged the private dams owned by the Devonwood-Loch Lomond Lake Association, the Arran Lake Homeowners Association, the Rayconda Homeowners Association and the Strickland Bridge Road Homeowners Association. The broken dams left pools of murky water and dry land where private lakes used to be.

The property owners sued the city in August 2018, arguing the city should be responsible for fixing the dams because it was using them for stormwater management. The city has fought the litigation, which has intensified into a legal battle ping-ponging between federal, state and local courts. We recap the latest below.

Welcome to CityView Today. Also in today’s newsletter: Hospital trade publication Becker’s Hospital Review recognized Cape Fear Valley Health’s simulation center for “its role in preparing future care professionals.” The publication told CityView it spotlighted the simulation center because it creates a safe, controlled learning environment for residents to practice their skills, enhancing patient safety and outcomes. And Judge Stephen Stokes will fill the seat vacated by Judge Claire V. Hill, who retired in December, on the Cumberland County Superior Court. A swearing-in ceremony is planned for March 28.

Thanks for reading,
Maydha Devarajan
Interim Editor-in-Chief