SAN FRANCISCO – An insurance company has filed suit against a fire sprinkler and standpipe maintenance company over allegations its negligence caused more than $150,000 in water damage to a San Francisco property.
Lexington Insurance Co. filed a complaint on Jan. 22 in the San Francisco Superior Court against Station 1 Fire Protection and Does 1 through 25 alleging negligence, breach of contract and breach of implied covenant to perform work in a good and competent manner.
According to the complaint, Lexington Insurance is the property insurer for Shorenstein Properties. The suit states on Nov. 9, 2016, Shorenstein Properties and Station 1 entered into an agreement for the performance of a five-year testing of auto sprinkler and standpipe systems for a San Francisco property.
The suit states Station 1 performed a test Dec. 7, 2016, and a leak began after the test. Further attempts by Station 1 to repair the leak did not remedy the problem, and on Dec. 26, 2016, an active leak caused "massive amounts of water to flow" from the 22nd floor and caused damage to the stairwell and other rooms.
The plaintiff alleges it provided $157,616.28 to Shorenstein Properties under the policy.
The plaintiff holds Station 1 Fire Protection responsible because the defendant allegedly failed to use proper/due care in inspecting and testing the valve, failed to abide by the warnings of the instruction label and tightening the valve by wrench and failed to ensure that the work performed would not create a risk of flood.
The plaintiff seeks judgment for monetary damages in an amount which may exceed $157,616.28, prejudgment interest, attorneys' fees, cost of suit and for such relief as the court deems just and proper. It is represented by Maura Walsh Ochoa and David Kestenbaum of Grotefeld Hoffmann in Larkspur.
San Francisco Superior Court case number CGC19572994