Plumbing company sued by home insurer over leaky ice maker

GRETNA – A New Jersey-based insurance company is suing a New Orleans plumbing company for allegedly causing a leak that damaged its customer's condo.

Federal Insurance Company filed suit against Bienvenu Brothers Enterprises Inc., Bienvenu Brothers Partnership and Bienvenu Brothers Plumbing Heating-Cooling in the 24th Judicial District Court on June 3.

Federal Insurance Company claims that a leak in an ice maker that was attached to a bar sink that was installed by Bienvenu Brothers in one of their customer’s condominiums caused severe property damage. The plaintiff alleges that the condo owners were away at the time and that a plastic water line that was cracked was not noticed until the neighbors in the condo below complained to management who found the damage. Federal Insurance Company asserts that Bienvenu Brothers disregarded the ice maker manufacturer’s instructions to use copper piping and used plastic instead. The plaintiff alleges that in order to remediate the damage it had to replace the flooring, baseboards, perform extensive cleaning and other repairs totaling $20,000.

The defendant is accused of negligence, breach of contract, failing to exercise the requisite degree of care and skill, failing to anticipate the reasonable consequences of its actions, failing to properly and adequately perform their work in good and workmanlike manner, failing to hire competent employees and failing to properly train and supervise employees.

Damages in the amount of $20,000 is sought by the plaintiff.

Federal Insurance Company is represented by Jamie C. Gary of the Baton Rouge-based Gary Law Firm LLC.

The case has been assigned to Division C Judge June Berry Darensburg.

Case no. 727-569.