Opinion ID: 3188963
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: introduction

Text: John and Xong Chao Beeson own and live on a property in the Palmer West Subdivision in the City of Palmer. Since they moved to the property in 1985, the Beesons have experienced several flooding incidents on their land. They attribute this flooding to water backing up against Helen Drive, a long-standing two-lane road adjacent to their property originally built by the Matanuska-Susitna Borough but controlled by the City since 2003. After the City installed a water line under Helen Drive and repaved the road surface in 2005, the flooding became more severe and caused serious damage to the Beesons’ home. The Beesons brought an inverse condemnation claim against the City, arguing that the City was liable for the damage to their property. After a three-day bench trial the superior court found that the City’s road reconstruction project was not a substantial cause of the flooding and therefore the City could not be liable in inverse condemnation. The superior court also granted attorney’s fees to the City. The Beesons appeal both rulings. We affirm the superior court’s decision with respect to the inverse condemnation claim and remand for further proceedings regarding attorney’s fees.