Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Illinois

You can sue her in small claims, since you can sue anyone for anything. However, unless your neighbor had notice there was a dangerous condition, or somehow caused the damage to your property, you may not be successful. The court does not know, and therefore cannot tell you, where your neighbor works.

I agree w/ Mr. Moens: Unless you can prove what amounts to your neighbor's "negligence" (notice that the awnings were in dangerous state of repair, not mounted properly, etc.), the situation you are talking about is akin to an "act of god" and you most likely will not prevail. The deductible was your choice; we all learn too late what it means but to have a lower one could have cost as much over a few short years of premiums. Depending on how you file your taxes you may get to deduct all or a portion of what you have to pay out of pocket for this "casualty loss".