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Downriver residents get more bad news about dam failure

Aerial Flood 4
Posted at 10:10 AM, May 08, 2019
and last updated 2019-05-08 11:10:37-04

NIOBRARA, Neb. (AP) — People who suffered losses when the Spencer Dam failed in northern Nebraska have gotten more bad news: Nebraska law limits the liability of the dam’s owner.

The dam owner, Nebraska Public Power District, has said the March 14 collapse was due to a combination of high Niobrara River flows and massive chunks of ice. The home of a man who lived below the dam, Kenny Angel, was swept away. His body still has not been found.

The Norfolk Daily News reports that attorney David Domina addressed a gathering of homeowners, farmers and businesspeople Monday evening in Niobrara. He told them state law limits the district liability to $1 million per claim per occurrence and $5 million per occurrence for all claimants. He says Knox County already is listing more than $17 million in damages.