East Alton homeowner sues insurer claiming it failed to pay fire damage

A Troy insurance company is accused of accepting payments from a client for nearly six years but failing to fully insure her property.

Connie Harrop filed a lawsuit Nov. 6 in Madison County Circuit Court against Country Mutual Insurance Company and agent Brett Miller.

Harrop says she owned a home on Cooper Avenue in East Alton. In May of 2007, she obtained homeowner's insurance coverage from Miller, the petition says. Miller, an employee of Country Mutual Insurance, allegedly assured Harrop that the policies would reflect the coverage they discussed, including liability coverage and casualty insurance.

Harrop claims she regularly paid premiums for what she believed to be the coverage she agreed to. On Feb. 8, Harrop says, a fire started in the garage of the Cooper Avenue home, completely destroying all the personal property inside.

The homeowner says it was after the fire that she learned Miller had not procured the insurance coverage requested by Harrop and for which she had allegedly been paying. Harrop says the garage and its contents were not covered by the insurance policy as it was written.

Harrop accuses Country Mutual and Miller of breach of contract and of violating Illinois' Insurance Code. She asks for more than $200,000 in damages plus court costs.

Attorney Doug Mendenhall of Alton represents her.

Madison County Circuit Court Case No. 13-L-1862