EDWARDSVILLE - A wide gap between the estimates of the cost of storm damage to a house has prompted a lawsuit against an insurance company.
Homeowner Kristen Monroe claims the cost of the damage to her Collinsville property was more than $125,000. State Farm Fire and Casualty offered just over $13,000, and has refused to pay any more, according to the lawsuit.
The suit, filed July 1 in Madison County Circuit Court, states that the April 30 storm caused "substantial damage" to the property.
At the time of the storm, Monroe had an insurance policy issued by State Farm and had paid all premiums, according to the suit.
She accuses the insurance company of breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty and vexatious refusal to pay. The plaintiff seeks more than $50,000 for the defendant's refusal to pay. She also seeks punitive damages for refusing to pay without just cause or excuse, which she alleges was unreasonable and vexatious.
The plaintiff is represented by Evelyn I. Sims of Wasinger & Daming of St. Louis.
Madison County Circuit Court case number 2020-L-903