EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County property owners allege their insurer delayed handling and response to their claim after their property was destroyed by a fire.
Tim Patterson and Dawn Patterson, now know as Dawn Ward, filed a complaint Jan. 7 in the Madison County Circuit Court against Country Mutual Insurance Company, doing business as Country Financial, and Travis French, alleging breach of contract, consumer fraud and deceptive practices and other claims.
According to their complaint, the plaintiffs purchased home and property insurance from Country Mutual on April 7, 2011, that included a detached building and personal property contents. They allege that on Feb. 5, 2017, a fire destroyed the detached building and its contents, but Country Mutual allegedly breached "its contractual duty" by failing to pay their claim "within a reasonable time."