State court to hear suits on sewer disputes

New York's top court said Thursday it will hear arguments in 10 lawsuits pitting Long Island local governments against various construction companies over chronic sewer-system problems.

The villages of Lindenhurst and Babylon, and the Town of Oyster Bay claim in each case that decades-long sewer problems constitute a "continuing public nuisance" and want the construction companies held liable.

Earlier this year, a midlevel court dismissed all the lawsuits, saying they were filed too late. But the state Court of Appeals now has revived the claims. It will combine all 11 cases in one proceeding, according to court spokesman Gary Spencer.

The case likely won't be heard until late 2013, Spencer said.