SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — A property owner in southern Springfield said that a portion of her property was destroyed during construction on the road. Now, she is trying to navigate a denied claim and get the issue fixed.
Xuna Hu owns a rental property on 5th Street in Springfield, where an IDOT construction re-milling project had started in April, just steps away from her front door.
A few weeks into the project, Hu and her neighbor noticed that a gap in the retaining wall had formed during the first stages of construction. Hu said she reached out to IDOT, who told her to obtain repair quotes so they could start a claim on her behalf. Soon after that, the wall collapsed.
"I could not believe it. This wall has been here probably more than 100 years. The wall has been there, stable, for this whole time. And suddenly, it's all gone." Hu said.
She was able to get the footage from her doorbell camera, which she sent with multiple before-and-after photos of the retaining wall to the insurance company for Earth Worx Solutions, who was leading the construction.
However, her claim was denied.
"I just could not believe that they would deny this claim, I thought, 'I have the video showing you. There's no way for you to push back,' and they did." Hu said.
The insurance company for Earth Worx solutions, Federated Insurance, told Hu that the wall already had a pre-existing issue.
Earth Worx Solutions released the following statement to WAND:
"Kinney Contractors Inc and Earth Worx Solutions LLC both where provided photos and documentation of a preconstruction inspection which was done before construction began of the existing damage to the homeowners retaining wall. This entire preconstruction inspection was provided to our insurance carrier. The homeowner was also seeking quotes to have the wall replaced before we began construction. The brick retaining wall was not anchored to anything and was free standing. Age and time had heaved the wall and it was derelict before any work was performed in front of the building. Federated Insurance did a thorough investigation before denying the claim."
Hu said she was never alerted about an issue with her retaining wall.
"They should have informed me, and they did not. And the fact that they are doing the work. The wall fell during that moment. Their activity triggered the wall falling, like, they have the responsibility," Hu said.
Hu said if she cannot get the repairs done through the insurance claims process, she will be pursuing legal action.
In a statement to WAND, IDOT said the following: "We are aware of this matter, which has been referred to our Bureau of Claims for further investigation."
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