Clarendon v BGK

On October 17, 2003, a fire broke out at the County Building at 69 West Washington in the Chicago Loop. As a result of the fire, 22 lawsuits were filed by the injured people and surviving family members on behalf of the six people that died in the blaze. All claims were settled in one of the largest civil settlements ever in Cook County history; over $100 million.

In a modern day twist to David and Goliath, a small security company refused to accept its insurance company’s refusal to defend the company in the Loop Fire litigation. On December 19, 2008, after battling the insurance company’s wrongful denial of insurance for over four years, the Illinois Appellate Court ruled in favor of the security company, requiring Clarendon America Insurance Company to defend B.G.K. Security Services, Inc. for the claims raised against it in the Loop Fire litigation.