South Dakota not liable for sinkhole under neighborhood, justices rule

The South Dakota Supreme Court ruled that the state isn't responsible for compensating homeowners in Black Hawk whose properties were damaged by a massive sinkhole in 2020. The 30-foot-deep hole appeared in the Hideaway Hills neighborhood, built on land reclaimed from a closed gypsum mine. This decision is significant because it addresses liability for damages in areas developed on reclaimed land, impacting how future developments and environmental remediations are handled. The ruling likely has implications for property insurance and local government's responsibility for such natural disasters.