City demolishes veteran’s home while he was recovering from surgery
The Associated Press contributed to this report
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A 69-year-old U.S. Navy veteran was surprised to find an empty lot where his home used to be after a length recovery from surgery.
In December 2014, Philip Williams went to Florida for a procedure, but developed infections that forced further surgery and heart complications, leaving him hospitalized until doctors deemed him medically able to return home in August, according to The Associated Press.
Meanwhile, officials in the town of Hempstead deemed Williams' modest two-story home unfit for habitation and knocked it down.
"The town basically took everything from me," said Williams, who is now staying with a friend in Florida and has only two suitcases of belongings. "The town does not have a right to take all of my property, all of my possessions."
Williams contends that he never received any of the notices and said he couldn't figure out why the letters were mailed to four separate banks where he never had accounts.
He has filed a notice of claim, the first step in a lawsuit against the town, and also is fighting for public records he believes may show what happened.
