Homeowner claims insurer failed to pay theft and fire claims

A St. Clair County man is suing an insurance company because he says he was not paid money to which he was entitled after a fire destroyed his home.

Jacob Netemeyer alleges Allstate Indemnity Company also did not pay a claim he submitted following a burglary at his home.

Netemeyer purchased a homeowners policy from Allstate on Dec. 13, 2006, and paid all premiums on the policy, according to the complaint he filed March 6 in St. Clair County Circuit Court.

However, the insurance company partially denied Netemeyer's claim after a fire occurred at his home on Jan. 24, 2007, and after a theft occurred at his residence on Nov. 21, 2007, the suit states.

"Defendant's breach of the Policy directly and proximately caused Jacob Netemeyer to sustain damages in the amount of the value of the insured property taken by theft from the Residence Premises," the suit states. "Defendant's breach of the Policy directly and proximately caused Jacob Netemeyer to sustain damages in the amount of the value of the insured property damaged by the fire and a reasonable increase in living expenses, less the amount paid by Defendant."

Netemeyer is seeking a judgment in excess of $50,000, plus pre-judgment interest, attorney's fees, costs and other relief the court deems just.

Kenneth J. Brennan of The Kenneth Brennan Firm in Collinsville will be representing him.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 09-L-0120.