Sewage Test Floods New Jersey Homeowner’s Basement

A northern New Jersey couple had a joint birthday celebration ruined after their city’s sewage test flooded their basement and ruined flooring that was put down the day before.

Officials in Clifton apologized to Mike and Jennifer Prybicien after Friday’s mishap and promised to pay for the cleanup and new plumbing work.

But the city’s attorney has told the couple to first collect on their homeowner’s insurance before asking the city to pay for repairs.

City Attorney Matthew Priore tells The Record newspaper officials acted with good intentions, but the city must follow the law.

Councilwoman Mary Sadrakula tells the newspaper the city should not force Prybicien to file an insurance claim. She says the city caused the problem and should fix it.