A Chilling Effect: The Fifth District Upholds Insurer’s Denial of Coverage for Frozen Pipe Burst
Recently, an Illinois appellate court affirmed a ruling an insurer did not owe coverage for damage to a building from a bursting frozen pipe. On appeal, the Fifth District agreed with the reasoning employed by the lower court, resting its decision on the warehouse owners’ failure to “maintain heat in the building or structure” to the best of their ability, as required by the policy.
The pipe burst occurred in February 2011. After this event,…