They're lawyers. My sympathy is shallow, at best.
The department sent out a building inspector to take a closer look at the project and issued a temporary order halting construction. Duffy went to the department and filed for a new building permit, which the department approved on June 9.
Case closed.
Indeed. They've certainly gotten a raw deal, but they are both attorneys. They should have known that relying on that advice won't give them a legal leg to stand on. Dumb.
No sympathy whatsoever for two arrogant lawyers who sincerely believed that laws do not apply to them personally. Tear down the house!!!!