Too Rich for Their Flood

Hopefully all the Lake County snow does not melt too quickly -- your LakeCountyEye does not have flood insurance. One company -- Farmers Insurance -- is not waiting for the inevitable. According to the Chicago Tribune ...

nearly 200 communities in the Chicago area being sued by a major insurance company that is arguing the municipalities didn't do enough to prevent last year's record flooding. The suits, filed by Farmers Insurance Group, seek to force these communities — and by extension their taxpayers and, ironically, their insurers — to pay back Farmers for claims it paid out for flooding in spring 2013.
Insurers sue Chicago-area towns in bid to get flood money

Who doesn't want a piece of that action? When opportunists disturb the peace, your LakeCountyEye turns to the one person who can piece it all together, Dr. I.M. Bhatschidtkhrazzi, Professor of Risky Business at the College of Lake County.

Your LakeCountyEye met Dr. Bhatschidtkhrazzi at the Hunt Club Park Aquatic Center. He played his iPod and said, "You've nodoubt heard the Farmers Insurance jingle ..."

We Are Farmers -- Bum Ba-Dum Ba Bum Bum Bum

"Ever since they insure against floods, their new jingle has been the theme from Jaws ..."

Da-Dum ... Da-Dum ... Da-Dum ... Da-Dum

"With the hundred year flood now the new normal" he continued, "do not be surprised if Farmers attempts to recoup its losses by filing suit against communities that elect climate-change deniers. I expect them to file a big suit against the McHenry County Board any day now."

That was good for your LakeCountyEye to know. Would other insurers follow suit?

"I don't think AFLAC will. Their flood insurance losses are water off a duck's back. But there have been similar cases filed by other parties. One class-action suit pending against Lake County seeks damages for lost wages and profits because the County Board has failed to ramrod the Route 53 Extension through in a timely fashion."

Did Dr. Bhatschidtkhrazzi foresee copycat lawsuits?

"Absolutely." he said. "Any town that banned assault weapons last year is vulnerable to litigation. What's to stop a homeowner from suing his municipality that told him he cannot own an assault rifle? I can easily imagine some 2nd Amendment extremist arguing that he needs his machine gun to protect his property and family. These municipalities could be facing legal expenses to the tune of $90,000 and more!"

Your LakeCountyEye was all like: Oh Get Out!

"Stranger things have happened." chuckled Dr. Bhatschidtkhrazzi. "The claimant could be a an erstwhile pillar of the community. A golf pro or a bond salesman or maybe even a pediatrician. There's no telling which guy on the block is the gun nut."

Your LakeCountyEye heard enough. Was there any parting advice?

"Tell your operatives to watch out for 2nd Amendment lawsuits that seek reparation for firearms that were damaged because of flooding. Attorneys are calling these litigants Super Soakers."