MORGANTOWN — The City of Morgantown, the Morgantown Utility Board and both entities’ insurers will pay a total of $1.5 million to settle a civil lawsuit brought by James and Karen Giuliani in 2017 following the collapse of Forest Avenue.
Terms of the settlement, which was approved by Morgantown City Council and MUB on Tuesday, state that the city and MUB will each pay $525,000, and the insurers for both will each pay $225,000.
In turn, the city will take possession of the Giulianis’ property on Forest Avenue, which consists of 22 lots and several structures.
An appraisal of the real estate performed by Chico Real Appraisal Services puts the value of the property at approximately $4.6 million.
The Giulianis brought the suit in December of 2017 after slides along Forest Avenue ended up closing the street for several months, costing the property owners/landlords an estimated $19,000 a month in rent and parking fees.
In the suit, the Giulianis claimed the slides were the result of work performed in the area by MUB and a failure by the city to maintain Forest Avenue.
According to the settlement, demolition of the improvements on the Forest Avenue property and conversion of the land into green space will enhance Whitmore Park, which is adjacent to Forest Avenue.
