BELLEVILLE – Founder's Insurance Company is being sued for allegedly refusing to repair an insured vehicle despite having a valid policy to cover water damage.
Plaintiffs Scott Baer and Elyse McClure filed a lawsuit in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against Founder's Insurance Company, citing conversion, the act of "depriving a person of their property permanently or for an indefinite amount of time."
According to the lawsuit, the plaintiffs owned a vehicle that was insured with the defendant for casualty losses, including water damage. The plaintiffs alleged that on May 19, they parked the vehicle overnight outside during a heavy rainstorm. The following morning, the vehicle reportedly was unable to start due to flooding.
The lawsuit alleges the defendant had the vehicle towed to a mechanic for the purpose of restoring it, but the vehicle has remained at the mechanic since June. The plaintiffs claim there has been no movement by the defendant to restore the vehicle. In the meantime, they have not received any money from Founder's to repair their vehicle or rent another vehicle while their vehicle remains at the mechanic.
The plaintiffs claim they have spent roughly $9,000 to rent other vehicles to get to work and go about their daily activities while waiting for their vehicle to be repaired. The vehicle at issue has a fair market value of $20,000, the suit states.
The plaintiffs are seeking damages in the amount of $60,000 and any other relief the court deems proper. They are represented in this case by attorney Paul M. Storment, Jr. of Paul M. Storment, Jr. P.C. in Belleville.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 22LA0852