Kings Grant homeowners prepare to sue U.S. government

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COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — A group of residents in the Kings Grant subdivision next to Fort Jackson have taken the first steps in suing the federal government. They allege that the failure of a dam on base caused massive flooding in their neighborhood, which had disastrous results. The homeowners have filed the paperwork, basically letting Fort Jackson and the Army Corps of Engineers know they’re planning on filing a lawsuit. Former U.S. Attorney for South Carolina Pete Strom is representing the homeowners. They’re alleging “negligent maintenance” of the Semmes Lake Dam. “That dam failed, flooded our neighborhood, flooded our neighbors, and all we want them to do is the right thing,” Strom says. “That’s all we want is the right thing.” That means paying for the millions in damage these houses sustained. In order to file suit against the federal government, you first must put them on notice, by filing paperwork. They have six months to review the case, and potentially resolve it. If they don’t act within that time-frame, Strom says they’ll file the lawsuit. He says he filed a Freedom of Information Act request early last week with the Army asking for all maintenance and construction records for the Semmes Lake Dam. They have 30 days to respond. They plan to expand that request to include other dams on base. ABC Columbia reached out to the the Fort Jackson Public Affairs Office. They told us they’re not able to comment on any current disputes, but we were able to submit a request to talk to someone in command about the damage that was sustained on base during the flooding. Stay with ABC Columbia for developments on this story.