A Madison County couple claims their insurance company refuses to pay an adequate amount for damages caused to their home following a fire.
Robert and Joyce Shewmake filed a lawsuit March 10 in Madison County Circuit Court against Country Mutual Insurance Company.
In their complaint, the Shewmakes allege their home at 211 Lampert St. in Alton sustained damages due to a fire on July 13.
At the time of the fire, Country Mutual Insurance Company had insured the Shewmakes and paid them $38,506.65, according to the complaint. However, the building incurred actual losses of $185,684.49, the suit states.
Although the Shewmakes have requested payment for their total losses under their insurance policy, Country Mutual has denied their claim beyond the amount already paid, the complaint says.
In addition to the money they claim they are owed, the Shewmakes are seeking a statutory penalty of $60,000, attorneys’ fees, one-third of their unpaid building loss claim, interest, lost rents and their costs.
They are being represented by Mark M. Silvermintz of The Kunin Law Offices in Collinsville.
Madison County Circuit Court case number 14-L-379.