ST. LOUIS — An insurance company is suing a demolition service provider, alleging insufficient measures were taken to prevent damages to property adjoining a structure that was torn down.
Nationwide Insurance Company of America, as subrogee of Alan Smith, filed a complaint on Dec. 21 in the St. Louis Circuit Court against Gaines Wrecking & Excavation Co. and Charles E. Gaines alleging that the demolition service providers failed to exercise the highest degree of care to secure the plaintiff's insured property.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that while demolishing an adjoining building that had been destroyed in a fire sometime before Aug. 26, 2016, the defendants failed to protect a brick wall on the plaintiff's property and as a result the wall sustained damage that ultimately led to the entire structuring needing to be demolished.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury; and seeks judgment against defendants for damages in excess of $25,000, plus interest, costs, and all further relief that is just and proper. The insurance company is represented by Ryan K. Manger of Law Office of Michael P. McDonald Jr. in St. Louis.
St. Louis Circuit Court case number 1722-CC12001