A towing company has filed suit against the city of East St. Louis, alleging the city caused the company to lose nearly $200,000 after it terminated a contract with the business.
Crockett Towing Company alleges East St. Louis hired it on June 10, 2005, to provide towing for the city. Under the terms of the contract, the city was supposed to renew the contract annually until June 9, 2010, according to the complaint filed Feb. 29 in St. Clair County Circuit Court.
However, the city decided to terminate its contract effective Aug. 3, 2008, the suit states.
"The City's termination was not due to any material breach of the Contract by Crockett Towing," the complaint says. "The City's purported termination of the Contract with Crockett Towing breached the term of the Contract which could not be terminated except as expressly provided, absent a material breach by Crockett Towing for good cause shown."
Because of the city's actions, Crockett Towing claims it lost $175,000 worth of annual income.
It is seeking payment for its damages.
It will be represented by Brian T. McCarthy of Wimmer, Stiehl and McCarthy in Belleville.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 12-L-114.
Crockett Towing says ESL breached contract by terminating service
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