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Lawsuits Descend on Capano Building Plans

creative commons

REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. (AP) - Ocean views have sparked dueling lawsuits concerning a posh Delaware beach neighborhood.

The Wilmington News Journal reports that Louis Capano III wants to build a four-story home for himself complete with a roof-covered deck that his neighbor, John Griffin, says will  block his view of the ocean. The contention lies with the Draper Subdivision Association's authority to govern neighborhood construction.

The association agreed with Griffin, and rejected Capano's plans, prompting the scion of a prominent developer family to ask the chancery court to intervene. Griffin then filed his own petition, asking the court to block Capano's construction.

Griffin and association representatives declined to comment or didn't respond to the newspaper's inquiries. Capano said in a statement that he wants to enjoy his "existing property rights."

Recent mediation ended without resolution.

Don Rush is the News Director and Senior Producer of News and Public Affairs at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.