State Farm sues home builder, dryer manufacturer over fire

State Farm is suing over claims the negligence of two different companies caused a fire.

State Farm Fire and Casualty Co., for Angel and Debra Gonzalez, filed a lawsuit Feb. 18 in the Cook County District Court against Red Seal Development Corp. and Electrolux Home Products Inc., citing breach of implied warranty of occupancy and breach of implied warranty of workmanship and negligence.

State Farm claims the Gonzalezs suffered extensive damage to their house at 5414 W. Hanson Ave. in Chicago on July 22, 2011 when it caught fire.

The insurance company alleges that Red Seal didn't install the proper dryer cap for the exhaust duct at the residence, resulting in a large accumulation of lint that caused the fire. It also claims that Electrolux Home Products' dryer was defective and collected lint in the heater pan, also contributing to the fire, causing damages in excess of $90,000.

State Farm is seeking damages in the amount of $90,218.59 and court costs. It is being represented in the case by Chicago attorney Gregory Oltman of Oltman Law Group P.C.

Cook County District Court Case No. 2014L001621.

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, a complaint represents an accusation by a private individual, not the government. It is not an indication of guilt, and it only represents one side of the story.