Lawsuit filed over Washington County remodeling project that got demolished

A building that was the subject of a five-figure remodeling project was razed by Washington County's redevelopment agency by the order of North Franklin officials, according to a lawsuit filed in federal court today.

John S. Bernett and his wife, Kimberly, who own Tri-State Restoration, were fixing a building on Mill Street, and had put $42,000 into it, according to the complaint.

On March 28, Mr. Bernett arrived to do some work on the property, only to find that "the building was gone and had been leveled and the land had been graded," his attorneys wrote in the complaint.

He claims that the taxes were paid and electrical service was on.

He called the township, which blamed the Washington County Redevelopment Authority, according to the complaint. The authority said that the township provided it with the address and information justifying demolition, the plaintiffs' attorneys wrote.

North Franklin solicitor Tom Lonich said he hadn't seen the lawsuit and could not comment.

Stephen Wiencek, assistant executive director of the authority, declined to speak to the specifics of the lawsuit.

He said that municipalities identify buildings that are in violation of codes, and the authority uses federal funds to demolish them.

The Bernetts allege that their rights to equal protection were violated, and demand compensatory and punitive damages.

Rich Lord: rlord@post-gazette.com, 412-263-1542 or Twitter @richelord First Published September 27, 2013 3:58 pm

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Lawsuit filed over Washington County remodeling project that got demolished