Illinois Farmers Insurance Co. v. Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

Filing Date: 2014
Case Categories:
Principal Laws:
Fifth Amendment—Takings, Illinois Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act, Illinois State Constitution
Description: Lawsuits brought by insurers contending that they had to make larger payments to property owners who suffered flooding as result of municipalities’ failure to implement reasonable stormwater management practices.
  • Illinois Farmers Insurance Co. v. Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
    Docket number(s): 14-CV-03251
    Court/Admin Entity: N.D. Ill.
    Case Documents:
    Filing Date Type File Action Taken Summary
    06/03/2014 Notice Download Notice of dismissal filed. Farmers Insurance filed notices of dismissal withdrawing the putative class action lawsuits that sought damages from  municipal entities in Illinois for failing to implement adequate stormwater management plans to prevent flooding that occurred in 2013. Farmers Insurance had filed nine of the lawsuits (see complaints for Cook, DuPage, Lake, McHenry, and Will Counties), at least two of which (Cook and McHenry) had been removed to federal court. A Farmers Insurance spokesperson said “[w]e believe our lawsuit brought important issues to the attention of the respective cities and counties, and that our policyholders’ interests will be protected by the local governments going forward.”
    05/02/2014 Notice Download Notice of removal filed.
  • Illinois Farmers Insurance Co. v. Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
    Docket number(s): 2014CH06608
    Court/Admin Entity: Ill. Cir. Ct.
    Case Documents:
    Filing Date Type File Action Taken Summary
    04/16/2014 Complaint Download Complaint filed. Illinois Farmers Insurance Co. and Farmers Insurance Exchange and their subsidiaries and related entities (Farmers Insurance) sued the water reclamation district for greater Chicago, Cook County, the City of Chicago and numerous other cities, towns, and villages in Illinois in a class action alleging that the municipalities’ failures to implement reasonable stormwater management practices and increase stormwater capacity resulted in increased payouts to the plaintiffs’ insureds after heavy rains in April 2013. The rains resulted in sewer water flooding the insureds’ properties. Plaintiffs alleged that the rainfall was within the anticipated 100-year rainfall return frequency—or, alternatively, that it was within the climate change-adjusted 100-year rainfall return frequency predicted by the 2008 Chicago Climate Action Plan. They asserted claims of negligent maintenance liability, failure to remedy known dangerous conditions, and takings without just compensation.
  • Illinois Farmers Insurance Co. v. County of Lake
    Docket number(s): 14L 281
    Court/Admin Entity: Ill. Cir. Ct.
    Case Documents:
    Filing Date Type File Action Taken Summary
    04/17/2014 Complaint Download Complaint filed.
  • Illinois Farmers Insurance Co. v. County of McHenry
    Docket number(s): 1:14-cv-03282
    Court/Admin Entity: N.D. Ill.
    Case Documents:
    Filing Date Type File Action Taken Summary
    05/06/2014 Notice Download Notice of removal filed.
  • Illinois Farmers Insurance Co. v. County of McHenry
    Docket number(s): 2014 L A 116
    Court/Admin Entity: Ill. Cir. Ct.
    Case Documents:
    Filing Date Type File Action Taken Summary
    04/17/2014 Complaint Download Complaint filed.
  • Illinois Farmers Insurance Co. v. County of Will
    Docket number(s): 14L 00314
    Court/Admin Entity: Ill. Cir. Ct.
    Case Documents:
    Filing Date Type File Action Taken Summary
    04/17/2014 Complaint Download Complaint filed.
  • Illinois Farmers Insurance Co. v. County of DuPage
    Docket number(s): 2014L00385
    Court/Admin Entity: Ill. Cir. Ct.
    Case Documents:
    Filing Date Type File Action Taken Summary
    04/17/2014 Complaint Download Complaint filed.