Did you hear about the Town that demolished a veteran's house while he was away for surgery?

2015-11-29T07:50:02-05:00

Did you hear about the Town that demolished a veteran's house while he was away for surgery?

RP Members what do you think? Did the city have the right and was there proper notification?

http://www.stripes.com/news/veterans/town-demolished-veteran-s-house-while-he-was-away-for-surgery-1.381016

When a U.S. Navy veteran traveled from Long Island to Florida for a knee replacement, his house was the last thing on his mind. But now his memory of it is all he can think about.

Philip Williams' home was demolished in the spring by town officials while he spent about six months recuperating from surgical complications in Fort Lauderdale. Back in New York, officials in the Town of Hempstead deemed his modest two-story home unfit for habitation and knocked it down.

The 69-year-old has now waged a legal battle against the suburban New York town. He wants reimbursement — for the house and all the belongings inside.

Williams has filed a notice of claim, the first step in a lawsuit against the town, and also is fighting for public records he believes may show what happened. Williams says town officials wouldn't tell him the name of the demolition company or the date the house was torn down.

The town said in a statement that it "followed all proper procedure with regard to property owner notification." But town officials refused to answer any other questions, citing pending litigation.

Williams has contacted police and the Nassau County district attorney's office and has asked for a criminal inquiry. A spokesman for the district attorney's office said the matter is under review.

"You see people who went through a tornado or a flood and they say they lost everything, but that's not preventable," Williams said. "This was preventable. The town took my house."

Town demolished veteran's house while he was away for surgery

When a U.S. Navy veteran traveled from Long Island to Florida for a knee replacement, his house was the last thing on his mind. But now his memory of it is all he can think about.

Response by LTC Bink Romanick made Nov 29 at 2015 8:11 AM

2015-11-29T08:11:09-05:00

COL Mikel J. Burroughs absolutely horrible!

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Nov 29 at 2015 8:11 AM

2015-11-29T08:11:23-05:00

COL Mikel J. Burroughs this was down right a travesty and wrong. They. Old have gave him more time!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 29 at 2015 9:17 AM

2015-11-29T09:17:45-05:00

This is a travesty.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 29 at 2015 9:41 AM

2015-11-29T09:41:07-05:00

He should sue them for millions and should win. I'm certain that he had items of no value that can't be replaced by money, but he should still get a good settlement in the millions for the pain suffering, and his lost memorabilia.

Response by SFC Stephen King made Nov 29 at 2015 10:28 AM

2015-11-29T10:28:49-05:00

I am saddened by this. I read this story and my only hope is he gets recouped very handsomely. Unfortunately , his personal items will never be recovered.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Nov 29 at 2015 11:03 AM

2015-11-29T11:03:07-05:00

Unreal - government run amok...

Response by Alan K. made Nov 29 at 2015 11:11 AM

2015-11-29T11:11:31-05:00

Imagine.....Not one person came forward and said he was in Florida for medical reasons or just plain out of town. Good neighbors will help an older person in the neighborhood keep their property up if it gets too much for them, Apparently not this neighborhood of I, Me, My's. I would make them (the town/city) pay me fair market value + 50% punitive damage AND triple damages for the irreplaceable items from the inside......I would say rebuild the house to original specs but it doesn't seem he has anybody left in that neighborhood to go back to! Move to Florida near the Friend who is a proven Friend.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Nov 29 at 2015 12:26 PM

2015-11-29T12:26:24-05:00

Shameful, COL Mikel J. Burroughs, shameful.

Response by MSgt Curtis Ellis made Nov 29 at 2015 12:27 PM

2015-11-29T12:27:10-05:00

COL Mikel J. Burroughs I just read about this... Unfortunately, the veteran didn't leave anyone to watch his home when he went to Florida to have surgery, and still did not when his hospital stay was lengthened. It would seem that the town, in question, began doing some underhanded tactics to demolish the home for aesthetic reasons as he, nor his actual bank, were ever notified. It would also seem that his neighbors were in on this as well... I hope he gets everything he can from the town, but since he has lived there since he was 6 years old, a great deal of his replaceables are irreplaceable...

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 29 at 2015 1:37 PM

2015-11-29T13:37:10-05:00

that's sad. just sad.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Nov 29 at 2015 1:50 PM

2015-11-29T13:50:01-05:00

No COL Mikel J. Burroughs I did not know that Philip Williams' home in Hempstead, New York was demolished in the spring by town officials while he spent about six months recuperating from surgical complications in Fort Lauderdale.
It is disgraceful that officials in the Town of Hempstead deemed his modest two-story home unfit for habitation and knocked it down.

Response by COL Ted Mc made Nov 29 at 2015 2:30 PM

2015-11-29T14:30:42-05:00

COL Mikel J. Burroughs - Mikel; It appears that the town had the LEGAL right to do what they did, that the town DID NOT exercise "due diligence" in doing what they had the legal right to do, and is going to be on the hook for a ton of money if this thing ever gets in front of a jury (who aren't going to be particularly concerned about anything other than the fact that an aging veteran had his house destroyed by a cold and uncaring bureaucracy).

Solution - Build him a new house right now - and waive his property taxes for life.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Nov 29 at 2015 2:43 PM

2015-11-29T14:43:39-05:00

What a shame. He needs an attorney.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 29 at 2015 6:37 PM

2015-11-29T18:37:30-05:00

COL Mikel J. Burroughs, This is a sorry deal this veteran had to go through. Who would have thought this would happen without someone relaying the city's plans to the veteran? It doesn't matter what condition the house was in. It was his house and property the city destroyed. I hope he gets some restitution over this.

Response by PV2 Scott Goodpasture made Nov 29 at 2015 7:32 PM

2015-11-29T19:32:23-05:00

This is why people go nuts and build tanks out of bulldozers and drive them through city hall as in Granby Colorado

Response by CPT Tamara Brewer made Nov 29 at 2015 7:59 PM

2015-11-29T19:59:56-05:00

I don't know what is more of a travesty, a veteran living in those living conditions or the town tearing down his home and giving him the run around.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Nov 29 at 2015 11:31 PM

2015-11-29T23:31:02-05:00

Thanks for sharing. Tracking!

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Nov 30 at 2015 7:46 AM

2015-11-30T07:46:52-05:00

This is terrible. It disturbs me that cities and local governments have so much power they can do such ridiculous things. I hope the veteran question it's a full public apology and his house rebuilt.