Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to relieve the adjacent property owner from liability for personal injury or property damage sustained by any person on account of any sidewalk becoming out of repair, and it shall be the duty of the property owner to keep the sidewalk adjacent to his or her property repaired, in good order, free and clean and, in case any damage is sustained by the city or recovered against it on account of such sidewalk not being kept repaired, in good order, free and clean, the damages, including costs and expenses, shall be recoverable by the city from the adjacent property and the owner thereof. In case any suit is brought against the city by any person on account of any sidewalk being out of repair, it shall be the duty of the Mayor to notify the owner of the property adjacent to the sidewalk where the accident on which such suit is based is alleged to have occurred, and such property owner shall have the right to employ counsel and to come in and defend the suit if he or she so desires; provided, that the provision for the giving out of notice by the Mayor is only directory, and shall not preclude the right of the city to recover as aforesaid from the property owner, although such notice is not given.
(1991 Code, § 18-15)