Crotty Insurance Agency Inc. and National Casualty Company were also named as defendants in the suit.
Marc Bartram, the plaintiff, is doing business as Marc Bartram Trucking.
Bartram was engaged in the business of interstate trucking and purchased a policy of insurance issued by National with effective dates of Dec. 7, 2014, through Dec. 7, 2015, according to a complaint filed March 21 in Wayne Circuit Court.
Bartram claims the policy provided coverage for his 2012 Peterbilt model 286 tractor and his 2016 Manac Darkwing 48’ flatbed trailer.
On Sept. 20, Bartram’s tractor and trailer were stolen in Riviera Beach, Fla., while on a trip and he timely and properly reported the theft to National and otherwise made a claim for coverage, according to the suit.
Bartram claims National wrongfully denied coverage for the claim, alleging an Operating Territory Endorsement limited to coverage to losses occurring within 300 miles of Fort Gay.
National’s wrongful denial was a breach of the contract entered between Bartram and National, according to the suit.
Bartram claims Crotty and Bloss & Dillard were negligent for including such an endorsement in his policy when they were well aware that he engaged in interstate trucking beyond 300 miles of Fort Gay.
As a result of the defendants’ actions, Bartram sustained economic and non-economic damages, according to the suit.
Bartram is seeking compensatory damages. He is being represented by Ben Salango of Preston & Salango.
Wayne Circuit Court case number: 16-C-035
