The erosion of the beach caused deck damage to Tai Dang's ocean-front house on Jan. 22, 2018.
Courtesy of Tillamook County Circuit Court
Tillamook County Circuit Court Judge, Jonathan R. Hill, ordered the city of Rockaway Beach to pay Tai Dang about $213,000 in attorney and litigation fees after a multi-year legal battle that began in 2016.
Dang sued the city in an effort to protect his ocean-front rental house from continuous damage due to coastal winter storms.
The house was built in 2008 and has been in danger of coastal erosion due to its location on the beach.
Rockaway Beach originally approved the location of the house. The city later claimed it was too close to the ocean and denied Dang from carrying out recurring repairs, according to court documents.
Throughout litigation, the circuit court allowed Dang to make repairs to a failing deck and the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department allowed a temporary permit for a stone wall, called riprap, to protect the shoreline near his home.
Dang is also in the midst of a federal lawsuit against the city. He claims it discriminated against him due to his race. He’s suing for no less than $1.8 million, the property value of the house.