Falls Church asks court to block demands for water refunds

Falls Church officials are asking a circuit court judge to block lawsuits filed by dozens of Fairfax County residents and businesses demanding several hundred thousand dollars in refunds on past water bills. The city filed two separate cases in Arlington County Circuit Court on behalf of Tom Clinton, the Falls Church revenue commissioner, asking the court to declare that the Fairfax customers are not entitled to refunds and that the commissioner is not obligated to pay them.

Officials also asked the court to prevent any of the defendants from suing for refunds or filing a petition that states that Clinton, in his official capacity as revenue commissioner, is required by law to correct erroneous assessments made on Falls Church water bills.