Allstate blames woman for fire that damaged insured's property

Allstate has filed a lawsuit against a woman it alleges caused damage to the property of one of its insured.

Allstate Insurance Co., as subrogee of Nicholas T. Flessor, filed suit July 21 in Cook County Circuit Court against Peggy C. Malone.

According to the complaint, Malone had rented property on South Mayo Drive in Orland Park, next to property owned by Flessor. On July 4, 2012, Allstate claims, a fire originated on Malone's balcony and damaged Flessor's property.

The insurance company accuses Malone of failing to supervise guests on her premises, negligently supervising guests in the proper disposal of flammable materials, allowing the premises to become a fire and smoke hazard, failing to equip the premises with a working fire extinguisher and failing to provide proper disposal containers.

Allstate is seeking damages in the amount of $87,644.22, the money it asserts it paid to Flessor for the damage caused by Malone.

It is represented by Chicago attorney Edward B. Elliott of the Law Office of Steven A. Lihosit.

Cook County Circuit Court Case No. 2014L007618.

This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed in 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 represents only one side of the story.