Lakeview spa faces suit over 2012 fire that damaged building

An insurance company is suing a spa it claims started a fire that damaged a Lakeview building by putting towels containing chemicals in the dryer.

Erie Insurance Exchange, as subrogee of 3341-45 N. Southport Inc., filed a lawsuit Aug. 28 in Cook County Circuit Court against Pure Nirvana Spa, alleging negligence.

According to the suit, Pure Nirvana Spa was using a Whirlpool dryer to dry towels and spa items that contained chemicals and oils on Aug. 22, 2012, when a fire broke out and caused more than $164,000 in smoke, fire and water damage to the building.

The owner of the building, 3341-45 N. Southport Inc., insured it through Erie Exchange, the complaint states. Pure Nirvana Spa is accused of negligence in failing to use detergent strong enough to remove the chemicals and oils that posed a fire hazard.

Erie Exchange is represented by attorneys Thomas J. Costello III and Timothy P. Peterson of Best, Vanderlaan & Harrington in Chicago.

The case number is Cook County Circuit Court case 2014-L-008992.

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 only represents one side of the story.