Main sewer line clog. My responsibility?

I'm a homeowner and part of a corporation whose purpose is below. In regard to our sanitary services, the corporation's bylaws state:
ARTICLE IX
SANITARY FACILITIES
Section 1. All sanitary drainage must be directed into a properly constructed connection with
the sewer system of the Corporation's central sewage disposal system. Sanitary facilities
must comply with the requirements of any state, county, municipal or other governmental
law, ordinance or regulation.

The corporation is outside of city limits and is part of a township.

Last week, the main sewer line clogged and water from the main sewer line clog backed up through my private connection and spewed storm water into my basement. I suspect damage incurred by me to be in the $7,500 range.

While the Corporation paid for the unclogging of the main sewer line...and the plumber called will verify that it was the main sewer line, and not the connector pipe to my house, that was the cause, the Corporation is refusing to pay damages to my property.

I'm investigating who would be responsible for the Corporation doing routine maintenance on the main sewer line. The Corporation says it won't pay for damages to my t...that I should have installed a check line valve to prevent water from entering the house. (Of the 30 some houses who are part of the Corporation, I wonder how many have such valves....no other house flooded in this incident but mine.)

I'm angry that the Corporation is not going to pick up the cost of my basement flooding repairs and am using this forum for comments regarding responsibilities in this incident.

When we moved into this house seven years ago:
1. The inspector did not advise us to install a check valve.
2. The Corporation never did.

I can understand it would be my responsibility to ensure that my private line to the main sewer line was clog/root free. I can't believe a small claims court would rule in favor of the Corporation for a clog in an area of its responsibility. Again, I am investigating what entity in my township/county would oversee a maintenance schedule by the Corporation. Do not have that answer yet.

What are the thoughts of this forum? Am I entitled to compensation from the Corporation?

Jerry,

I suspect that you don't have insurance to cover sewage backup. If you do, simply submit the claim to your insurer and let them fight with the Associations insurance company.

You can always file a claim against the Associations insurance company directly. This will prompt their insurer to investigate.

Get documentation of the issue now, statements, names contacts, photos etc. this could be a long drawn out battle or one that is resolved quickly. You need to prepare for the long drawn out battle.

I agree with Larry, contact an attorney and see what your legal options are. Sometimes, simply filing a claim against the Associations insurer combined with a letter from an attorney will resolve the matter. Sometimes it will simply escalate the issue into a battle of attorneys.

Around here many SWD's do not want a check valve installed on the side sewer unless the finished floor is lower than the nearest adjacent manhole on the main. Check valves can fail shut, and then back up the side sewer into the domicile. So in any case, recommending a check valve, or noticing that one was not present is way, way, way above the pay grade of your average idiot home inspector.