Couple finally wins court fight over demolition

After five separate court appearances a couple from Nantong, Jiangsu Province finally won a lawsuit Friday against the local housing management bureau, forcing the bureau to further investigate whether the demolition of their properties was legally carried out.

Zhang Liang, who had his six properties demolished or partially wrecked, told the Global Times Monday that the Chongchuan district court ruled that the Nantong Housing Management Bureau had not fulfilled its duties when it ordered a demolition crew to destroy his properties.

Zhang and his wife first filed the lawsuit in December 2011. Zhang lost the first trial at the Chongchuan district court and appealed to the Nantong intermediate court, which heard the case twice before sending it back to the Chongchuan court for retrial. The district court again ruled against Zhang but he refilled the lawsuit and finally won.

Zhang said in May 2009 three of his six properties in Nantong were demolished and three others were left as empty shells with their windows and doors torn out. Zhang said he had refused to accept the compensation offer from the subdistrict office but his properties were demolished when he was away for the day. Zhang said he was beaten several times by the demolition crew.

Zhang and his wife have not yet won any compensation and their lawyer, Ni Wenhua, told the Global Times that discussion will take place after the housing bureau completes the court-ordered investigation.

"Instead of suing government-backed demolition companies, going after the authorities is more effective," said Ni's assistant surnamed Li. "Filing lawsuit against authorities forces them to talk directly with Zhang; otherwise the officials won't even look at you."

Several calls to the Nantong housing bureau went unanswered on Monday.