Insurance company sparks suit over dehumidifier it claims caused fire, nearly $218K in damages

The insurer of two Springfield residents is suing over claims a malfunctioning dehumidifier caused a fire on their property.

Pekin Insurance Co., as subrogee of Greg Slomer and Kathryn Stelling, filed a product liability lawsuit April 29 in the Cook County Circuit Court against Sears Holding Management Corp., doing business as Kenmore.

According to the complaint, a Kenmore dehumidifier Slomer and Stelling had experienced an electrical malfunction that ignited a May 25, 2011 fire at their Springfield residence that Pekin insured.

The insurance company accuses the defendant of strict liability, design and manufacturing defect, failure to warn, non-specific defect and negligence. It is seeking the $217,900 it paid out to Slomer and Stelling for the damages.

Pekin is represented in the case by attorneys Robert Ostojic and Jonathan M. Heilman of Leahy, Eisenberg & Fraenkel Ltd., which has offices in Chicago and Joliet.

Cook County Circuit Court Case No. 2014L004716.

This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed in the Cook County Circuit Court. 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.