A Jerseyville couple is suing their auto insurer to recover underinsured motorist benefits.
Vernon and Wanda St. Peters filed suit against Auto-Owners Insurance Co. on Feb. 17 in St. Clair County Circuit Court, a day after a second demand for arbitration was denied.
The St. Peters claim they suffered severe injuries in an auto accident in Chaves County, New Mexico on Feb. 18, 2013.
Vernon suffered $9,000 in medical expenses and Wanda suffered at least $140,000 in medical expenses, the suit says. They settled their claims with the person responsible for the crash, having received $25,000 each - the full amount of the other party's insurance coverage.
The plaintiffs say they are entitled to recover compensatory and punitive damages under the underinsured motorist provision of their auto policy.
They claim they demanded arbitration on Feb. 6 and Feb. 16, but were denied both times.
The St. Peters are represented by James R. Williams of Williams, Caponi and Associates.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 15-L-87