Verizon sues Glenville over severed cable

PHOTOGRAPHER: Michael Goot

Verizon is suing the town of Glenville, claiming town workers damaged one of its telecommunications cables while digging.

In the lawsuit, filed Aug. 20 in state Supreme Court, the company alleges the town caused $18,477 in damage when “in a negligent and careless manner” it hit underground telecommunications cables, equipment, poles and facilities at the intersection of Van Buren and Swaggertown roads.

Town Supervisor Chris Koetzle said he was aware Verizon had filed a notice of claim, a preliminary step to a lawsuit, and said he had not been served.

Koetzle said the town workers followed proper protocol, digging only where Verizon indicated it was safe.

“Unfortunately, it appears they did not mark it correctly, and they missed a line,” he said.

Public Works Commissioner Tom Coppola said the town needed to dig in the area to fix a water main break. When workers hit the line, it knocked out phone service. Verizon did a very quick temporary fix.

Coppola said the lawsuit would be handled by the town’s insurance carrier, Cool Insurance.

Verizon spokesman Raymond McConville said the company doesn’t typically comment on pending litigation and that the lawsuit speaks for itself. He did say the line, which was a copper cable carrying telephone and some digital subscriber line service, was properly marked.

No court date has yet been set.