Lawsuit: Batavia foundry had no sprinklers, fire caused by negligent worker
A fire at a Batavia foundry in March 2014 was hastened by a lack of fire sprinklers and caused by a careless employee using a grinder near cardboard boxes, according to a Kane County lawsuit.
Building owner Mark One is seeking $450,000 damages from former tenant Master Cast, Inc., for a fire at 126 S. Mallory Ave. that also caused losses at Dewell & Dewell, a business that shared a wall with the foundry, according to the suit.
Dewell & Dewell, a professional liquidator firm, lost business and had damages to its inventory and is seeking more than $50,000 from Master Cast.
"Master Cast did not maintain a fire alarm and/or a fire suppression/sprinkler system within its warehouse," read part of the suit, which also contends a worker was using some type of grinder that emitted sparks and caused the fire.
"There is information both ways (on whether there were sprinklers)," said Stuart Brody, an attorney representing Mark One and Dewell & Dewell. "We'll have to wait to see how the evidence plays out."
Brody said Dewell & Dewell is open, but still recovering from the blaze.
"They are attempting to put things together and get back on their feet," he said.
Master Cast since has moved to a new location. A message left at Master Cast Wednesday was not immediately returned.
The company's website did appear to contradict the allegation in the lawsuit that a negligent worker started the fire.
"Fortunately, the fire occurred when no one was working, so no Master Cast employees were injured," according to mastercastfoundry.com. "While the building was severely damaged, much of the equipment and all of the tooling were undamaged."
The parties are next due in court Feb. 25.