West Bend Mutual Insurance Company has taken legal action against Forest City Decorators, LLC, following a devastating fire that caused significant damage to a construction project. The complaint was filed on March 30, 2025, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. West Bend Mutual Insurance Company, acting as a subrogee for Bennett Construction, Inc., seeks to recover over $1 million from Forest City Decorators due to alleged negligence leading to the fire.
The lawsuit stems from an incident on February 6, 2022, when a fire broke out at a well pump facility in Pecatonica, Illinois. Bennett Construction had been contracted by the Village of Pecatonica as the general contractor for this project and subsequently hired Forest City Decorators as a subcontractor responsible for painting and staining tasks. According to the complaint, Forest City Decorators was the last subcontractor on site before the fire occurred.
The insurance company claims that Forest City Decorators improperly handled and stored flammable materials such as petroleum-based floor epoxy and lacquer thinners at the site. These materials allegedly emitted highly flammable vapors that were ignited by an electric heater located near open containers of paint and stain supplies. "Due to poor housekeeping," West Bend argues in its filing, "highly flammable vapors were emitted," which ultimately led to the fire.
As a result of this incident, extensive damage was reported throughout the facility. The complaint details how specialized water treatment equipment suffered charring and heavy smoke damage while other rooms sustained structural harm requiring substantial repairs. In total, West Bend Mutual Insurance Company paid Bennett Construction $1,058,525.70 for damages incurred from what is referred to as "the subject fire loss."
West Bend Mutual Insurance Company accuses Forest City Decorators of negligence under several counts: failing to properly handle hazardous materials according to safety data sheets; not securely closing containers; inadequately storing or disposing used rags and brushes; and allowing conditions that led directly to vapor ignition by nearby electrical equipment.
The plaintiff is seeking judgment against Forest City Decorators amounting to $1,058,525.70 plus additional costs related to attorney fees incurred during litigation proceedings. They argue that without these alleged lapses in protocol by their subcontractor partner—Forest City Decorators—the destructive blaze would not have transpired.
Representing West Bend Mutual Insurance Company is Brad M. Gordon from Grotefeld Hoffmann Gordon Ochoa & Evinger LLP based out of Chicago's South Wacker Drive office suite number 1500 with contact details provided within documentation submitted alongside case number 3:25-cv-50141 presided over within Northern District Illinois' Western Division courtroom setting where proceedings will unfold accordingly against defendant party named hereinabove.