Belleville man sues insurer claiming it refused to pay for stolen 'classic' car

In a recently filed lawsuit, a Belleville man is seeking reimbursement for his vehicle after he claims it was stolen.

Edward Cason filed a lawsuit Dec. 3 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Alton Bell Community Credit Union and CUMIS Insurance Group Society.

Cason claims CUMIS had issued a GAP insurance policy to him on May 7, 2010, which he believed was supposed to cover his 1973 Pontiac GTO.

On March 7, 2012, Cason’s Pontiac was stolen, the suit states. He attempted to file a complaint, but discovered that CUMIS refused to pay claims related to “classic vehicles,” the complaint says.

In addition to losing his vehicle, Cason suffered emotional distress because of the policy’s failure to pay damages, according to the complaint.

He says CUMIS negligently failed to investigate his claim in a timely manner, failed to pay the losses owed under the policy in a timely manner, refused to pay losses owed under the policy and delayed payment of Cason’s claim.

In his complaint, Cason is seeking a judgment of more than $100,000, plus costs and other relief the court deems just.

Blake G. Meinders of Belleville will be representing him.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 13-L-601.