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As summer rainstorms returned this week with a vengeance, many Queens homeowners were still stuck picking up the pieces from the storms of 2007. Given the extent of last year’s flood damage, City Comptroller Bill Thompson has announced his intention to extend the deadlines for claimants to sue the City.

“We are working to find a solution that is equitable to homeowners and residents,” Thompson said. “I personally saw the damage that many homeowners suffered and I fully believe that by extending these deadlines, we will be able to resolve these cases in a manner that is fair to both the claimants and to the City without the need for costly litigation.”

In general, tort claims against the City of New York, which are processed by the Comptroller’s Office Bureau of Law and Adjustment, must be filed within 90 days from the date of the occurrence. A legal action must then ordinarily be filed against the City within one year and 90 days from the date of occurrence. According to the Comptroller’s office, Thompson is offering a six-month extension, authorized under the City’s Administrative Code.

“The Comptroller is tacking on another six months in which to file a lawsuit,” Comptroller Communications Director Jeff Simmons said. “It gives him more time to try to resolve these.”

According to Simmons, existing claimants will soon be receiving a letter in the mail. Those interested in agreeing to the six-month extension should sign the letter and return.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) had offered its support last summer, opening up an assistance center in downtown Flushing and partnering with various organizations to offer grants. But with FEMA’s time in Queens limited, Councilman Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans) had strongly advised his constituents to also file claims with the Comptroller. Queensites heeded his advice and bombarded the Comptroller with submissions. Those claimants have yet to see any compensation.

Following the July 2007 storm, 348 claims (including 328 from Queens) were filed, requesting approximately $10.8 million. And then, after the August 2007 storm, another 888 claims (including 810 from Queens) were filed, requesting more than $16.4 million.

The Comptroller’s Office has revealed that it could not process the claims until the Department of Environmental Protection submitted its own analyses and findings to the Comptroller. The DEP Report, issued in April, determined the City was not responsible for the flooding damage.

DEP Spokeswoman Mercedes Padilla directed the Tribune to the New York City Law Department, which had no comment.