Condo owner accuses insurance agent of giving bad advice over policy

A Chicago resident is suing an insurance company and one of its agents, claiming they failed to advise her to purchase sufficient coverage.

Lina Deng filed a lawsuit May 7 in the Cook County Circuit Court against AAA Member Select Insurance Company and Zachary Rambach, alleging negligence and breach of oral contract.

According to the suit, Deng  purchased a condominium unit at 340 E. Randolph St. in Chicago for $2.9 million on July 9, 2009 and contacted the defendants to provide her with an appropriate homeowner's insurance policy.

She claims Rambach advised her to purchase a policy covering $10,000 for dwelling damages, an amount of coverage she contends was insufficient for the damages she incurred when the building's broken washing machine hose caused a May 2010 flood in the laundry room.

The suit alleges Rambach didn't take into account the value of her property and failed to give sound advice in regards to her insurance policy.

Deng is seeking damages in excess of $100,000 and any other relief the court deems just. She is being represented by Chicago attorneys Michael J. Scotti III and Eric B. Powers of Freeborn & Peters LLP.

Cook County Circuit Court Case No. 2014L004992.

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.