Insurance firm, homeowners association sues contractor, architect over water damage

American Family Insurance Co. and the Residences of Sherman Plaza Condominium Association are suing Focus Development Inc. and OKW Architects Inc. over renovation work that allegedly led to water damage at 807 Davis St. in Evanston.

After renovations were complete, on Jan. 29, 2014, fire suppression pipes near the lobby elevator on the 23rd allegedly floor froze and broke.

According to the lawsuit filed Feb. 19 in Cook County Circuit Court, renovation work done caused "untreated air to penetrate the building and caused water to freeze within the fire suppression system pipes. When those pipes broke, the lawsuit states, "significant water damage was done to the common areas, the elevators and two condominium units."

American Family Insurance paid for the repairs, which cost $278,217.25, in addition to the insurance premium of $10,000 paid by Sherman Plaza.

That is the amount sought by the plaintiffs.

The plaintiffs are represented by Steven Thompson of Sneckenberg, Thompson and Brody of Chicago.