Court Clerk To Sue Baltimore Over Water Bills

BALTIMORE (AP) -- A city official says he plans to file a class-action lawsuit against Baltimore over erroneous charges to residents by the city's water system.

Circuit Court Clerk Frank Conaway notified the city of his plans Tuesday.

Conaway's attorney, former city solicitor Neal Janey, says the lawsuit arises from a failure to collect water bills owed by businesses while some residents were forced out of their homes for overdue bills. Conaway says he's seeking monetary damages for affected residents.

In response, current City Solicitor George Nilson says Conaway and others are filing lawsuits for publicity. Conaway ran against Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake in the last election but says his political opposition is unrelated.

City officials have acknowledged 38,000 customers were overcharged for water service and issued refunds.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)