AIG Insurance Co. claims Bell South low-hanging communications wires caused damages to tractor-trailer driven by its insured Illini Environmental Inc.'s driver Patrick Arnold

AIG Insurance Co. claims Bell South low-hanging communications wires caused damages to tractor-trailer driven by its insured Illini Environmental Inc.'s driver Patrick Arnold 

by Noddy A. Fernandez
November 8, 2017
 



BELLEVILLE, ILLINOIS – 

An insurance company is seeking reimbursement for money it paid for damages to a tractor-trailer that were allegedly caused by a low-hanging communications wire.

AIG Insurance Co. filed a complaint on Oct. 24 in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against BellSouth Telecommunications Inc., doing business as AT & T Georgia, alleging property damage.


According to the complaint, on March 17, 2014, its insured Illini Environmental Inc.'s driver Patrick Arnold was operating a tractor-trailer on the entrance ramp of state Route 159 north near the Interstate 64 highway. The suit states that the defendant's low-hanging telephone cable caused a collision with the tractor-trailer and damaged the vehicle.

The suit states that plaintiff paid the total amount of $57,738.27 as per insurance policy and the plaintiff alleges it is entitled to claim and pursue subrogation rights from the defendant.

The plaintiff holds BellSouth Telecommunications Inc. responsible because the defendant allegedly failed to adequately hang and secure the communication wire at a safe distance over the roadway and failed to maintain or inspect the communication wire in question to make sure it was hung as per the Illinois Commerce Commission guidelines.

The plaintiff seeks judgment in the amount of $57,738.27, with interest at the legal rate, for the costs of action and for such other and further relief as the court deem just and proper. They are represented by Marc Gnade of Law Office of Marc Gnade in Fenton, Mo.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 17-L-624 

Illini Environmental Inc. Caseyville, Illinois | USDOT 1035665

 

Overview

• Illini Environmental Inc. is an active carrier and shipper based in Caseyville, Illinois.
• Its fleet predominantly consists of trucks and tractors.
• Its rather diminutive fleet size (15 vehicles) suggests a lack of scale; however, it has logged 386 k miles, which indicates that it runs a fairly sizable operation.
• It has no safety rating on file.

 

Crashes (Since 2012)

Date	Location	Weather	Road Condition	Vehicles Involved	Injuries	Fatalities
December 16, 2016	Hannibal, MO	Not Available	Snow	2	0	0
March 17, 2014	Fairview Hts, IL	Normal Conditions	Dry	2	0	0