Insurance company sues manufacturer over fire allegedly caused by its product

An insurance company is suing a tool manufacturer, claiming one of its products caught fire and damaged a building.

Farmers Insurance Exchange, as subrogee of A-Z Sales Inc., filed a lawsuit Feb. 14 in the Cook County Circuit Court against Harbor Freight Tools USA, citing negligence.

The lawsuit states Farmers provided coverage for A-Z Sales Inc., which had purchased a pressure washer from Harbor Freight.

The insurance company claims the pressure washer caught fire on July 24, 2012 and caused $357,202.48 in damage to A-Z Sales' building. Farmers paid the claim, but is now seeking reimbursement from the tool manufacturer.

Farmers is seeking the $357,202.48 in damages it paid out to A-Z, plus court costs. It is being represented by Stuart M. Brody of Sneckenberg, Thompson & Brody LLP.

Cook County Circuit Court Case No. 2014L001560.

This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed at the Cook County Courthouse. The details in this report come from an original complaint filed by a plaintiff. Please note that a complaint represents an accusation by a private individual, not the government. It is not an indication of guilt, and it represents only one side of the story