Nearly Seven Years Later, Motorist Finally Gets Pothole Damage Check From City

By John Dodge

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Back in March, 2008, Adam Schulman was driving his new car over the snow-slicked roads on Chicago when--BAM--he ran over a pothole.

The crater near a manhole was obscured by about two inches of snow, and the impact blew out his tire.

Schulman filed a claim with the city to cover the $110 to replace the tire.

Nearly seven years later, Schulman finally got his money!

Think about that: President Obama had not yet secured the nomination for president and the economic collapse caused by the sub-prime loan mess was hardly a headline yet. Usher had the No.1 song on the Billboard charts ("Love In This Club.")

Schulman said in an email that he first inquired about the status of his claim about a year after the incident.

At that time, he was told by the city that he would have to wait.

There were about 5,000 claims ahead of him.

Finally, in October of this year, Schulman received a letter from the Committee on Finance, Small Claims/Rebate Division:

"After careful consideration and review of the documents submitted with your claim ... the Committee On Finance hereby offers the sum of $110.45 to settle the ... claim."

"Six and a half years later - bingo! Patience really is a virtue!" Schulman said.

The check, dated 11/20/14 recently arrived at his South Loop mailbox.

If Schulman had received his $110 check in November, 2008, he could have purchased eight shares of Starbucks stock, which would be worth about $1100 today.