Firstco Mortgage accused of wrongly denying death insurance claim

A man has filed suit against his mortgage company, alleging it refused to pay the remainder of his mortgage after his wife’s death, violating an agreement.

Lloyd S. Bassoo claims he and his deceased wife, Rookmin Bassoo, paid $1,231 for a credit life insurance item in a mortgage refinance transaction on their house at 24 Isis Drive in Granite City. Per the terms of the insurance, defendant Firstco Mortgage Company agreed to pay for the remainder of the Bassoos’ mortgage in the event one of the Bassoos died, according to the complaint filed May 30 in Madison County Circuit Court.

Firstco defendant Jeff Silvey told the Bassoos the life insurance would cover the amount of the mortgage being refinanced, the suit states.

On Jan. 24, 2013, Rookmin Bassoo died, the complaint says.

After Rookmin Bassoo’s death, her husband contacted both Firstco and Silvey to inform them of his wife’s death and to make a claim on the life insurance policy, according to the complaint.

Lloyd S. Bassoo alleges Firstco and Silvey breached the credit life insurance agreement, committed fraud and violated the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.

Lloyd S. Bassoo seeks a judgment of more than $100,000, plus actual and punitive damages, costs of the mortgage, additional interest paid to keep the mortgage current during Firstco’s refusal to pay and other damages to be proven at trial.

Jack P. Cranley of Glen Carbon will represent Bassoo.

Madison County Circuit Court case number: 14-L-784.