National Vinegar sour about insurance company's refusal to pay up

GREENVILLE — A Missouri vinegar manufacturer is suing its insurance company, alleging that it refused to pay for loss of stock due to sabotage at its Olney facility.

The National Vinegar Company filed suit against Traveler's Property Casualty Company of America in the Third Judicial Circuit Court of Madison County on Oct. 7,  for alleged damages arising out of its refusal to pay a  claim for more than $900,000. 

The suit alleges that the company lost more than 100,000 gallons of its vinegar stock in February due to what it said was sabotage. Traveler's allegedly denied the company's claim, stating that the problem was due to product spoilage and isn't a covered loss under its insurance policy with National Vinegar.

National Vinegar asserts that this refusal to pay is a bad faith dealing by the insurance company and in addition to its $900,000 in business losses is seeking punitive damages for Traveler's refusal to pay. The company is represented by Michael B. Minton of Thompson Coburn LLP in St. Louis, Missouri.

Third Judicial Circuit Court of Madison County case number 2015-L-001293