Trust, individuals allege partially denied insurance claim

The trust of a woman and connected individuals have sued an insurance company over hail damage, citing breach of contract.

Kristin Howard, trustee of the Shayna Youkhana Irrevocable Trust, and Shane and Michelle Youkhana, individually and as guardian of the late Shayna Youkhana, a minor, filed a lawsuit April 13 in Cook County Circuit Court against the Merrimack Mutual Fire Insurance Co. and L.J. Shaw and Co., individually and as an agent of Merrimack, over an insurance claim.

According to the complaint, Merrimack and its agents breached the policy when it partially denied an April 12, 2014, loss due to a hail storm, paying out only $2,302.90. The suit says Merrimack breached its contract when it paid only $840.45 to replace a skylight that cost $1,554; failed to pay for items of like kind required by the policy; paid to replace wood shakes that were insufficient to cover the damage caused by the hail storm; and failed to replace the roof to replace the skylight, downspouts and interior water damage.

The plaintiffs seek damages of more than $60,000, 60 percent of the adjudicated award, plus court costs and attorney fees. They are represented by the Youkhana Law Group, of Chicago.

Cook County Circuit Court case number: 15-L-3788.