An insurance company representing William Rainey Harper College in Palatine is suing a roofing company, claiming the roofers caused almost $500,000 in damage when their effort to replace a section of roof on a college building caused the ceiling to collapse into a lecture hall.
The Illinois Community College Risk Management Consortium filed suit on June 23 in Cook County Circuit Court against Bennett & Brosseau Roofing, Inc. and Legat Architects, alleging negligence and breach of contract.
According to the complaint, the roofers at the direction of the architect were removing and replacing a section of roof on Building E at Harper College on June 14, 2013. However, the technique they were using on the metal panel roof led to them allegedly cutting wire hangers supporting the interior ceiling in the building, the complaint states.
After removing about 30 percent of the roof, enough of the ceiling hangers were cut to cause the ceiling to collapse into Lecture Hall E106, the complaint alleges.
Together with underwriters from Lloyds of London, the insurer paid Harper College about $487,000 to fund repairs to the room.
The insurer has asked the court to compel the roofers and architect to repay them that amount, plys costs and interest.
The insurer is represented by Patrick C. Hess, of Nielsen Zehe & Antas, of Chicago.