Skooter's Files Lawsuit 1 Year After Devastating Fire

JOLIET, IL - For the past several months, the business sign along U.S. 52 for Skooter's Roadhouse has displayed the same message: "CLOSED FOR REMODELING." Now, one year after a devastating fire broke out at the bar in Shorewood, the owners have filed a civil lawsuit at the Will County Courthouse. The lawsuit was filed by Jameson's Pub, doing business as Skooter's.

The defendants are: Clear Blue Specialty Insurance Company, Newman & Newman, RGL Forensics and Fortis Risk Solutions. The Chicago firm of King Holloway Lipinski filed the lawsuit.

The fire at Skooter's occurred on the night of Nov. 27, 2017 "in the area of the kitchen causing fire, smoke and water damage to the subject property," the lawsuit points out.

Skooters had an insurance policy to guard against a fire, through Clear Blue Specialty Insurance Company, the filing states.

"Within two or three days, Clear Blue sent out a representative to investigate the premises. Within eleven hours of the fire, the Shorewood Fire Department determined that the fire originated in a kitchen exhaust hood and spread to other areas of the kitchen," the lawsuit states.

Clear Blue, however, insisted it was not about to cut Skooter's a check until it conducted its own independent probe of the fire.

The lawsuit informs Will County's judicial system that "Skooter's was further informed by Clear Blue that it could not undertake any repairs or rehabilitation of the subject property until Clear Blue concluded its investigation and approved coverage.

"After more than four months of investigation, Clear Blue finally approved coverage under the policy, finding that the fire originated as indicated by the Fire Department."

During that four months, lawyers for Skooter's note, "Skooter's was unable to operate its business or undertake any repairs ... Plaintiff was instructed to work Defendant Newman, which was assigned to oversee and approve repairs to the Subject Property."

Next, RGL was assigned by Clear Blue to determine the monetary loss of income for Skooter's while it wasn't able to open the bar after the fire.

Engle Martin was utilized to administer the claim and approve any payments for Skooter's.

Another firm, Fortis, was assigned by Clear Blue to process any payments approved by Engle Martin and to issue the checks to Skooter's officials, the lawsuit notes.

"As of the filing of this Complaint, the claim remains open due to the delay in administering this claim by the above-referenced defendants and the business remains closed to the public," the lawsuit states.

The new Will County lawsuit was assigned a court date of next March 18.

At the moment, it remains unclear when Skooter's will ever reopen for business.

Images via John Ferak/Joliet Patch Editor