Liggett fined for failing to tear down building
BROWNSVILLE – A fine of $18,600 has been imposed on Brownsville property owner Ernest Liggett for failing to comply with a court order to tear down a building at the foot of High Street. Fayette County Common Pleas Judge Steve Leskinen had issued a decree for Liggett to demolish a yellow brick building at 149 High St., adjacent to the parking lot for the Masonic Lodge in Brownsville. Under the stipulated agreement approved by Leskinen in March, Liggett was to begin tearing down the building within 90 days of receiving a permit from the borough, the demolition to be completed within 45 days after it had begun.
Although the agreement had been worked out between representatives for the borough and Liggett, no work was done on the building and the borough’s solicitor, Melinda Dellarose filed a contempt complaint, resulting in the latest finding against Liggett.
“And now, Sept. 19, 2005, upon stipulation of the parties, the Court finds that the Court’s previous decree has not been complied with, as a result, a financial penalty of $200 per day from June 18 through this date is due,” Leskinen wrote in the order.
The order includes a 30-day grace period from Sept. 20 through Oct. 19 in which no additional fines will accrue. The judgment against Liggett, his wife Marilyn, and their three businesses, Brownsville Group Limited, Manor Investments Limited and Redstone Group Limited, will not be executed until after Oct. 20, under the terms of the court order. Additional fines could accumulate after Oct. 20.
“If we choose to execute on the judgment, we could execute this judgment against a property that does have value,” Dellarose said. “We’re still trying to work things out. Ultimately, we want that building torn down. That’s what needs to be done.”
Liggett’s attorney, Sean Audley, did not return several calls to his office Tuesday.
The brick building at 149 High St. originally was part of the same agreement that resulted in the demolition of the Plaza Theater in 2004. The Plaza site has been cleaned up.
Liggett is expected to be back in Fayette County Court Oct. 24 before Judge Gerald Solomon on an appeal of fines imposed by Magisterial District Judge Ronald Haggerty last December.
At that time, Haggerty imposed fines of more than $17,000 for building code violations at seven Brownsville properties including three on Market Street in downtown Brownsville.