Property owner sues after city allegedly demolishes structure on property

NEW ORLEANS – A property owner claims she was not informed of the scheduled demolition of a structure on her property by the city prior to the demolition occurring, and that the demolition was wrongfully scheduled because the building was in the process of being repaired.

Kimberly James Hart filed suit against The City of New Orleans and the Code Enforcement and Hearings Bureau in the Orleans Parish Civil District Court on July 17.

Hart claims the structure had been repaired, and was under further repairs leading up to the time of the demolition and therefore was not in violation of the city code. The plaintiff claims that her proper mailing address had been updated with the city office, but that she did not receive any correspondence regarding the structure on her property failing city code standards. Hart also alleges the defendant wrongfully placed a lien on her property for the cost of the demolition.

The defendant is accused of failing to properly notify the plaintiff of liens, failing to properly notify plaintiff of intent to demolish the structure, failing to properly inspect the property prior to demolition and failing to verify that the plaintiff was a recipient of the Blight Eradication Grant.

The plaintiff is seeking an unknown amount in damages to rebuild the structure that was demolished by the defendants and the removal of all liens placed by the defendants against the real property as a result of the demolition.

Kimberly Hart is represented by Wayne E. Woods of New Orleans.

The case has been assigned to Division H Pro Tempore Judge Lynn Luker.

Case no. 2014-07019.