Illinois Farmers Insurance Co. v. Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

Farmers Insurance filed notices of dismissal withdrawing the putative class action lawsuits that sought damages from  municipal entities in Illinois for failing to implement adequate stormwater management plans to prevent flooding that occurred in 2013. Farmers Insurance had filed nine of the lawsuits (see complaints for Cook, DuPage, Lake, McHenry, and Will Counties), at least two of which (Cook and McHenry) had been removed to federal court. A Farmers Insurance spokesperson said “[w]e believe our lawsuit brought important issues to the attention of the respective cities and counties, and that our policyholders’ interests will be protected by the local governments going forward.”

Lawsuits brought by insurers contending that they had to make larger payments to property owners who suffered flooding as result of municipalities’ failure to implement reasonable stormwater management practices.