Government slapped with class-action suit over reservoir releases

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Property owners are taking the United States government to court over flooding they say occurred as a direct result of controlled releases from the Addicks and Barker reservoirs.

The class-action suit was filed on behalf of residential and commercial property owners who did not experience flooding until Monday, Aug. 28. By that point, the worst of Harvey's rains had passed and engineers had begun controlled releases of water from the two reservoirs.

The suit alleges the government's "intentional and deliberate decision" to release an "unprecedented amount of water" that deprived them "of the use, occupancy, and enjoyment of their real property" in violation of the Fifth Amendment.

This story has been updated.

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