Man Sues, Claiming Map Error Cost Him His Land

Clark Cook had a deal to sell two acres of his deceased father's property in Liberty, Pennsylvania. So imagine his surprise when a review of the Tax Assessor's Map revealed that he didn't own the land.

According to a story in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, the land in question had already been acquired through eminent domain by the South Allegheny School District. The only problem was that the school district didn't compensate Mr. Cook, who claims to be the rightful owner. Instead, the school district had paid $80,000 for the land to the family of Lucy A. Williams. Ms. Williams was shown as the owner on the county Tax Assessor's Map.

So Mr. Cook has filed suit against the county and the school district, claiming that the county mistakenly assigned him a different piece of land when it changed its assessment system in the 1970s.