City of Pittsburgh v. Pivirotto

Opinion by

Judge Craig,

The City of Pittsburgh appeals from an order of the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County which held the city liable for demolishing a house without. providing notice to the appellee, James Pivirotto, who had purchased the house fourteen months earlier, at a city treasurer’s sale of the premises on account of real estate tax delinquency.

As a general proposition, a municipality must, before destroying a building, give an owner sufficient notice, a hearing and ample opportunity to demolish the building himself or to do what suffices to make it safe and healthful for…