State Farm seeks $66K from Sharp Electronics over microwave fire

An insurance company is suing the manufacturer of a microwave it asserts started a fire in the home of one of its insured, forcing it to pay out more than $65,000 for property damage.

State Farm Fire and Casualty Co. as subrogee of Julie Capasso, filed a lawsuit May 23 in the Cook County Circuit Court against Sharp Electronics Corp.

According to the complaint, the July 15, 2012 fire in Capasso's residence on North Troy Street in Chicago began in a microwave manufactured by Sharp Electronics. State Farm contends it had to pay more than $65,000 for damages to her home, and $1,000 to Capasso.

The suit accuses Sharp Electronics of strict liability and negligence.

The insurance company is seeking more than $66,000 in damages and is being represented in the case by attorney Gregory Oltman of Oltman Law Group P.C.

Cook County Circuit Court Case No. 2014L005586.

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.