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Philadelphia firebombing victims win in court { April 12 2005 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://www.nbc10.com/news/4373442/detail.html http://www.nbc10.com/news/4373442/detail.html MOVE Firebombing Victims Win Victory In Court Mayor May Appeal Judgment POSTED: 7:23 pm EDT April 12, 2005 UPDATED: 8:07 pm EDT April 12, 2005 PHILADELPHIA -- There was a big victory in federal court for 24 homeowners on Osage Avenue 20 years after their homes were destroyed in a firebombing. Mayor John Street inherited the housing problem. The city bombed and burned out 61 houses in May of 1985 in a confrontation with the radical group MOVE. In a rush to rebuild, the housing work was shoddy, leading to multiple problems and millions more in repairs. The city bought out 37 homeowners for $150,000 each and then boarded and locked up their places. But 24 homeowners said that wasn't enough to replace their homes and sued. Monday, the city was ordered to pay them $12 million in reparations because of the shoddy workmanship. But the homeowners know this may not be the end of the story. "I hope this is the end of it. I don't know, but I hope it is," said Ernestine Rice, a homeowner. "I need a roof. Inside, there were some beams that were supposed to be replaced. They didn't put them in. It leaks everywhere," said Thomas Mapp, another homeowner. Now the city must consider appealing Monday's judgment of $534,000 for each of the remaining 24 homeowners. "If we give one group of these residents $500,000, then I think we're talking about $500,000 for everybody," Street said. "We would ask that he pay the judgment and that he rehabilitate or tear down and reconstruct the houses that the city has already purchased here," said Gerald Renfrow, the homeowners' president. Copyright 2005 by NBC10.com.

Philadelphia drops explosives from helicopter on houses { April 14 2005 } Philadelphia firebombing victims win in court { April 12 2005 } Philadelphia ordered to pay 14m for bombing city { April 14 2005 } Files Listed: 3

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