Farmers Insurance filed nine class action suits against nearly 200 communities in the Chicago area, saying that local governments should have prepared for rising global temperatures that have led to heavier rains and flooding.
The suits charge that the municipalities did not do enough to fortify their sewers and stormwater drains, causing the insurance company to pay out claims that could have been averted.
While legal observers say the chances of Farmers winning the cases are slim, there may be another motive behind the strategy: insurance companies want to push cities to invest in prevention as a way to avoid future lawsuits.
The Farmers’ cases raise the question of how city governments should allocate funds in preparation for natural disasters.
Michael Gerrard, director of the Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia Law School in New York, told Reuters that he expects more lawsuits of this type. If disasters happen more frequently, it’s possible that cities would bear more legal responsibility to prepare for them, he indicated.
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Nov 26, 2018
All LEED-certified buildings eligible for LEED recertification
Projects must submit 12 months of data demonstrating continued or improved performance.
Codes and Standards | Nov 20, 2018
OSHA publishes updates to crane operator certification requirements
Long-delayed rules accept certifications by type or type and capacity.
Codes and Standards | Nov 19, 2018
Guide offers understanding of elements that create successful multi-floor communal spaces
CTBUH technical document analyzes how to approach tall urban habitat.
Codes and Standards | Nov 16, 2018
2018 International Green Construction Code released
Updated version helps governments streamline code development and adoption.
Codes and Standards | Nov 15, 2018
New versions of DOE’s EnergyPlus engine and the OpenStudio software development kit released
New offerings resolve over 70 bugs and offer new features.
Codes and Standards | Nov 14, 2018
Obsolete safety standards may have been used in cleanup of former naval shipyard
San Francisco redevelopment site work may have been racked by fraud.
Codes and Standards | Nov 13, 2018
New York City’s new construction safety requirements are delayed
Some contractors say they weren’t ready for ‘massive initiative’.
Codes and Standards | Nov 9, 2018
Cities have multiple strategies to reduce parking requirements
Each community has to find its own mix of solutions.
Codes and Standards | Nov 8, 2018
Denver replaces green roof mandate with cool roof option
Less costly light-colored roofs can cut project costs by about 1.5%.
Codes and Standards | Nov 7, 2018
New report addresses sound transmission of wood-framed assemblies
AWC document provides empirical sound transmission model.
