8701 Village Place in East St. Louis
AmerenUE and an electrical subcontractor responsible for reconnecting an East St. Louis resident's downed power lines after a destructive ice storm last winter are being sued by Illinois Farmers Insurance Co.
According to a suit filed Nov. 8 in St. Clair County Circuit Court, a fire broke out in the home of Anthony Walker because defendant Sumter Utilities caused a spike in the power flow during reconnection on Dec. 7, 2006.
Illinois Farmers claims it paid $112,465.93 in fire damage for the property located at 8701 Village Place.
Walker paid a $1,000 deductible, the suit claims.
Both defendants had a "special/higher duty of care because of their position as a utility company/contractor and repairer of highly dangerous electrical power lines," the complaint states.
Represented by Stuart M. Brody of Chicago and Matthew C. Zittel of Neville, Richards & Wuller of Belleville, Illinois Farmers seeks the sum it paid on the claim as well as costs of the suit.