PHILADELPHIA – A South Philadelphia homeowner allegedly facing severe structural damage to his property from a construction accident and inadequate home repair work has filed legal action against the contractor he feels is responsible and the insurance company that hasn’t compensated him for the initial property damage.
Glenn Griffin of Philadelphia filed suit in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas on Oct. 23 versus Lexington Insurance Co/AIG Insurance of Berkeley Heights, N.J. and Marileeceo Energy (c/o Jerome Irving) of Thornton.
The Lexington/AIG defendant issued a homeowner’s insurance policy to the plaintiff’s Federal Street property, for an annual cost of $1,380.57, the suit says. On or about Oct. 22, 2015, while the policy was in effect, Griffin says he suffered damage to his residence due to construction happening at an adjacent property, resulting in a severe crack in the foundation of the insured premises and additional areas of the property.
“While repairs were being made, the façade of the home began to crumble and additional repairs were required, and refused by AIG,” the suit says.
An estimate of the repair covering removal of debris from the basement and reparation of the property to its pre-accident condition in the amount of $40,000 was prepared, and defendant Marileeceo was hired to perform the repair work, the suit says.
“In an effort to mitigate cost, an alternate route was used to remove debris and the front porch was removed, causing severe damages to the façade of the property. Marileeceo refused to correct the crumbling façade and was negligent in its work, causing said further deterioration of the façade,” the suit adds.
As a result of the mishandling of the claim, the plaintiff says it has suffered financial damage not in excess of $50,000.
For counts of breach of contract and bad faith, the plaintiff is seeking damages not in excess of $50,000, inclusive of attorney’s fees, costs and interest on plaintiff’s claim in an amount equal to the prime rate of three percent.
The plaintiff is represented by Tina C. Lawson in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas case 171002937
From the Pennsylvania Record: Reach Courts Reporter Nicholas Malfitano at nickpennrecord@gmail.com