Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Illinois

Fire laws

We live in a trailer park and rent. The water pipes froze and the park maintenance man put a butane heater outside the trailer to thaw the pipes. The trailer burnt almost to the ground and we lost 90% of our belongings. Fire report states fire started due to the heater. We contacted and hired a lawyer who said to make a list of our belongings which we did..Then they turned that list over to the parks lawyers. They now say we will only get the depteciated value of our belongings. Total of the list we sent to lawyers was $16,125. We continue to pay out money for things we had prior to fire and my wife who is attending college has had to take 3 incompletes because the fire/and subsequent strain etc has caused her to fall way behind. My question is this..Is this correct?. Does the park only owe us the depreciated value?. The heater they used to thaw the pipes was not intended for such use and park has since bought the proper heaters.

Thank you

--name removed--Junker


Asked on 5/23/03, 12:47 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Thaddeus Hunt Law Offices of Thaddeus Hunt

Re: Fire laws

Nothing is absolute. Everything is open to negotiation no matter what the park's lawyers might state.

If you have not yet contacted an attorney, you should do so to protect your rights.

Remember that the park's lawyers do not work for you. They represent the interests of their client. It is possible you can recover much more than just the value of the lost items.

Good Luck. If you wish you may call my office at (312) 236-9906.

Very truly yours,

Thaddeus J. Hunt, Esq.

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Answered on 5/23/03, 12:56 am


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