Due to events over the last year—which include the flood of sewage into the store because of a failed sewer line on Aug. 12 and chemical smells that ruined the store's entire inventory—Walker and Croll have decided to close the Jennifer Croll Boutique, which has been in business in Los Gatos for 10 years.

Walker and her attorney, Ron Cook, filed a claim on Jan. 13 against the town of Los Gatos and owners of the sewer line connected to her store, and in February against the West Valley Sanitation Company, which the town claimed was responsible for maintaining the sewer line. The claims were recently rejected. Walker said she and Cook are now in the process of filing a lawsuit that will name all parties involved in the flood and the spoiling of her inventory, which consists of high-end dresses.

"We are going to have to go forward with a lawsuit, unfortunately," Walker said. "Everyone is avoiding us and not giving us answers."

Walker said her sister, Jennifer Croll, the owner of the building where the store was located and the namesake of the dress shop and its sister franchises, waited as long as she could before closing the store. She had hopes that something would come of the claim against the town or that insurance would pay enough to get the business on its feet again. Unfortunately, neither of those things happened, and the better part of a year has gone by with no money coming in.

Walker has been keeping her dress inventory in storage since August, when the flood occurred. However, she said that she can no longer afford to do so.

Walker will be liquidating her inventory in a special sale at the Los Gatos Opera House on May 11, 3-9 p.m., and May 12, noon-9 p.m.