EDWARDSVILLE - A tenant at a Godfrey apartment is being sued after her guest started a grease fire while frying food.
Philadelphia Indemnity Insurance Company, as subrogee of Elm Street Student Housing LLC, filed the complaint in the Madison County Circuit Court against tenant Rose Bryant and guarantor Jeannie Bryant.
According to the complaint, Rose Bryant was renting an apartment owned by Elm Street Student Housing in Godfrey. Her lease was active from Aug. 1, 2022, to July 31, 2023. On May 4, 2023, Bryant had a guest at the apartment. The guest was allegedly frying food in a shallow pan on the stove when oil spilled onto the stove and resulted in a fire.
The lease agreement states that the resident is liable for damages caused by fire, smoke, grease or cooking and must pay the cost of repairs.
The plaintiff alleges Bryant's guest carelessly operated the stove, failed to suppress the fire after it started and failed to ensure the oil would not spill over onto the stove. It also alleges Bryant negligently failed to supervise guests while they were at the apartment, failed to leave the premises clean and in good repair and breached the lease agreement.
The plaintiff seeks $65,426.18 in damages, plus court costs and attorney's fees. It is represented by Matthew Capen of Grotefeld, Hoffmann, Gofdon, Ochoa & Evinger LLP in Chicago.
Madison County Circuit Court case number 23-LA-1612