Glen Carbon couple sues Country Financial over unpaid hail damage claim

A Glen Carbon couple wants the court to order their insurance company to pay them for hail damage caused to their roof more than one year ago.

Keith and Marcia Billhartz filed a lawsuit June 10 in Madison County Circuit Court against Country Financial.

The Billhartzes claim they have been attempting to collect money from Country Financial for nearly one year since two storms caused hail damage to their roof. The first storm occurred on June 15, 2010, but the couple does not specify when the second storm occurred.

After the Billhartzes submitted a claim for damages to Country Financial, however, the company refused to settle the claim and has delayed paying it, according to the complaint.

The Billhartzes have had two professionals, including an inspector for a construction company and a professional engineer, examine their roof and provide Country Financial with an estimate of damage to their roof, the suit states. Still, Country Financial wants additional information, the complaint says.

"Plaintiffs have hired engineers to inspect the cedar shake roof and have exhausted all means in order to have their complete roof replaced and paid for by the Defendants according to the coverage of their policy," the suit states. "Defendant has admitted that there was hail damage on two separate occasions, Defendant's delay is unreasonable and vexatious in refusing to replace and pay for the entire cedar shake roof as deemed necessary by Plaintiff's expert's report."

In their complaint, the Billhartzes seek a judgment of more than $50,000, plus interest and costs.

Greg Roosevelt of Roosevelt Law Office in Edwardsville will be representing them.

Madison County Circuit Court case number: 11-L-555.