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105-524: The present complex was built in 1920-21 for J.W. Denio by Ballinger and McAllister of Bloomington, Illinois . It consists of a reinforced concrete mill building with a long two-story wing and a more compact six-story section, adjoined by a reinforced concrete grain elevator with seven pairs of grain tanks. The elevator features a large logo with a cowboy on a bucking horse and the legend "Best Out West Enriched Flour, Tomahawk Feeds For Livestock and Poultry, Sheridan Flouring Mills, Inc." The elevator building

210-591: A qui tam suit against State Farm under the False Claims Act . The Rigsby sisters claimed that State Farm shifted state claims to federal flood insurance that should have been covered by private wind insurance, making the federal government and not State Farm liable for the insurance. In 2013, the Rigsbys won the fraud case focused on one home in Mississippi, and in 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld

315-492: A beekeeper outfit and a parody of The Bachelorette , and in a number commercials with celebrities, including Alfonso Ribeiro , Chris Paul , Aaron Rodgers and Paul Rudd . On his first anniversary as Jake, Miles appeared in a commercial during Super Bowl LV in which Drake appeared as his stand-in . According to Marketing Arm, Jake is better known than Katie Couric or Hilary Swank and 80 percent of those who know him like him. A report by Semrush says that State Farm

420-586: A $ 145 million punitive verdict against State Farm, making note that an earlier $ 100 million judgement was unreported to State Farm's corporate headquarters. The regional vice president had no plans to report said judgement under review. Following the Good Friday 2006 hailstorm in Indiana that resulted in over $ 1 billion in property damages, State Farm faced approximately 50,000 claims for damage, out of which it rejected more than 7,000 claims. Joseph Radcliff,

525-429: A 1,000-seat theater, created by the legendary theater builders Balaban & Katz, original inventors of the classic movie palace. For decades, the property served as one of the area's premier destinations. The Castle was restored to its former glory with a $ 1.5 million renovation. It presents live music, corporate, public and private events. The Illinois Wesleyan University School of Theatre Arts houses its talent within

630-527: A 4-acre (16,000 m ) short game practice facility. The Links' complex also includes Golf Etc., a pro shop selling everything golf related. The Links is also home to the skills Challenge portion of the State Farm Youth Classic each summer. Prairie Vista sports 16 water hazards, a wave bunker, two-level greens and fairways, much sand, a pro shop, carts, club rental, snack bar, banquet room and driving range. In addition to annually hosting

735-607: A Green Show performance. The Lincoln's Bloomington Festival is held each July in Downtown Bloomington and features Civil War reenactments, traditional craft demonstrations, children's activities, musical performances, talks and tours. The Spring Bloom Arts Festival is hosted by the McLean County Arts Center in March each year. This indoor fine art festival features over 100 artists representing

840-606: A RICO conspiracy, committing both common law fraud and statutory insurance fraud. On July 19, 2023, plaintiffs Mary Brown, Andy Velazquez, William Midgett, and Diane Coughlin took legal action by initiating a class action lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court against State Farm. This legal action is rooted in allegations of State Farm's violation of Illinois privacy rights laws. The plaintiffs are individuals who were involved in accidents with drivers insured by State Farm. The core of their claim revolves around

945-560: A Sumatran tiger, river otter, Galapagos tortoise, Amur leopard, sun bears, reindeer, sea lion, red pandas, lemus, bald eagles, pallas cats and red wolves. The zoo features many exhibits including Wallaby WalkAbout, ZooLab, Children's Zoo, Animals of Asia, and the Katthoefer Animal Building. The Zoo's newest exhibit is the Tropical America Rainforest. The Bloomington-Normal Constitution Trail

1050-536: A critically acclaimed commercial showing a man (played by Justin Bartha ) who says that he will "never" do something (such as getting married, having kids, moving to the suburbs, and buying a minivan ), only to do all of those. At the end of the commercial, he admits that he is "never letting go." The commercial is based on the saying "never say never" and how people say that they will "never" do something, only to do it anyway. In 2015, State Farm released The Hoopers ,

1155-402: A fire in a laundry across the street from the old city hall and police station. He sounded an alarm but the fire destroyed most of the downtown, especially the areas north and east of the courthouse. The burnt area was quickly rebuilt from the designs of local architects George Miller and Paul O. Moratz. Bloomington continued to grow during the first two decades of the 20th century. Agriculture,

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1260-529: A glimpse into the life friend and mentor of Abraham Lincoln, David Davis , who was a U.S. senator from Illinois and associate justice of the United States Supreme Court . Davis was a key component during Lincoln's bid for the 1860 presidential nomination. The Davis Mansion, completed in 1872, combines Italianate and Second Empire architectural features and is a model of mid-Victorian style and taste. His Bloomington home, which remained in

1365-469: A lawsuit against State Farm for allegedly keeping a list of prominent lawyers referred to within State Farm as the "Jewish Lawyers List". Any claims made by clients of these attorneys were automatically forwarded to State Farm's fraud unit, potentially on the basis of the religion and national origin of the lawyers. These claims would then be neither settled nor paid. State Farm initially claimed that this

1470-540: A lawsuit filed by actor Shannen Doherty against State Farm, a federal jury in Los Angeles awarded her $ 6.3 million in damages. The lawsuit claimed that State Farm had failed to adequately compensate Doherty for the damage to her Malibu home caused by a California wildfire in 2018 . The jury found that State Farm's denial of policy benefits for Doherty's property was unreasonable and lacked proper cause. State Farm expressed empathy for Doherty's health but disagreed with

1575-536: A listed inventory "for some time." The California Department of Insurance denied this requirement. In 2008, John McGee sued State Farm for wrongful denial of medical claims, denying him revenue he was entitled to for rendered treatments. He alleged that false examinations were done by State Farm to cut off benefits, resulting in denied claims. McGee alleged that State Farm and "IME" companies conspired to produce fraudulent reports in order to terminate benefits. McGee's claims were dismissed. In 1993, Todd Hindin filed

1680-408: A personal liability limit of $ 1 million. State Farm refused to pay the awarded amounts of $ 100,000 for Charles Cook and $ 400,000 for Bernadette Cook when they pursued their claim. The insurer cited Illinois statute 215 ILCS 5/143a , which it claimed allowed them to reject awards exceeding $ 75,000, despite the awards falling within the policy limits. State Farm's refusal to pay led to a lawsuit filed by

1785-533: A roofer who established a company to repair homes damaged by the storm, was hired by around 300 State Farm policyholders. During his work, Radcliff observed that some of his clients, whose claims had been denied by State Farm, resided next to homeowners whose claims had been approved by other insurance companies. Radcliff reported State Farm to the Indiana Department of Insurance. In response, State Farm took legal action against Radcliff, labeling him as

1890-598: A series of State Farm commercials focusing on a family, including NBA players Chris Paul playing the father, DeAndre Jordan playing the mother, Kevin Love playing the son, Kevin Garnett playing the grandfather and Damian Lillard playing the baby. Additionally, a State Farm agent plays the role of a helpful neighbor in the set of commercials. In 2020, Kevin Miles took over the role of Jake from State Farm from Jake Stone in

1995-410: A series of commercials, the first ad airing before Super Bowl LIV , as a reimagining of the original 2011 "State of Unrest" commercial from the "State of..." campaign. Craig Miller of State Farm's agency The Marketing Arm said the character was so popular people were still dressing as him for Halloween . Jake from State Farm, who wears a red shirt and khakis, appeared in different settings, including

2100-590: A service called the State Farm Safety Patrol which provides free roadside assistance to stranded motorists on participating highways. When a driver calls the designated telephone number for the Safety Patrol, they will respond and provide the following services: fuel refills; radiator refills; engine oil refills. Most Safety Patrol personnel are also CPR and Automated External Defibrillator certified. They work to reduce accident rates, minimize

2205-531: A strike for union recognition, increased pay, and a shortened workday. It ended in July when the mayor of Bloomington, E.E. Jones, mediated contract talks between the workers and company from July 6 to 9. During this, the Illinois National Guard had been stationed outside the courthouse where mediation was occurring, equipped with machine gun emplacements. In 1997, Judy Markowitz was elected as

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2310-420: A verdict that Campbell was 100 percent liable for the accident. State Farm refused to pay the excess amount or post a supersedeas bond to allow Campbell to appeal the verdict. Campbell obtained his own counsel to do this. In 1984, while the appeal was ongoing, Campbell reached a settlement with the victim's estate, where Campbell would pursue an insurance bad faith action against State Farm. The attorneys for

2415-605: A video tour of the Bloomington plant and history of Beer Nuts. Eastland Mall is the main shopping center in Bloomington. Bloomington-Normal ranks competitively in Richard Florida 's creativity rankings. Most noteworthy is Bloomington-Normal's creative class share of the workforce, which resulted in a No. 1 rating for Bloomington-Normal's creativity rank. The Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts

2520-708: A wide range of media including woodworking, glass art, sculpture, paintings, prints, photographs and handcrafted jewelry. The McLean County Fair is billed as the '"Home of the World's Largest County 4-H Fair" taking place each August at the McLean County Fairgrounds in Bloomington. 4-H activities include: livestock shows, a film festival, and exhibits around food, nutrition & health, plant science, engineering & technology, and environment & natural resources. Evening Grandstand Entertainment features tractor pulls and various musical acts. Ewing Manor

2625-427: Is chairman and CEO of State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company. The company announced on December 28, 2023, that Tipsord will be retiring in 2024 and will be succeeded by Jon Farney, currently the company's chief financial officer. Jon Farney is the current president and chief executive officer of State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company. By 2017, State Farms announced its plan to exit 11 facilities in

2730-403: Is 144 feet (44 m) high, while the grain tanks are 110 feet (34 m) high. The mill therefore dominates the skyline of Sheridan. The mill was purchased by Nebraska Consolidated Mills Company in 1963, the firm that became Con-Agra in 1971. The mill was upgraded in 1967, but closed in 1972. In 1974 a local corporation purchased the mill and converted it into a hotel in 1977-1978. As part of

2835-584: Is a 24-mile (39 km) trail that operates on dedicated right-of-way through much of the city. The north–south segment of the trail follows the abandoned Illinois Central Gulf railroad from Kerrick Road in Normal to Grove Street in Bloomington. The east–west segment intersects the north segment at Normal City Hall Annex and continues east to Towanda-Barnes Road. The Liberty Branch begins at Commerce Drive and ends at Old Farm Lakes Subdivision. The Freedom Branch begins at Lincoln Street and ends at Route 9 West. The trail

2940-408: Is a 4-star, Arnold Palmer Signature Designed Golf Course that opened in 1997. Amenities include GPS-equipped carts, club rental, pro shop and snack bar. There are nine holes with water hazards, 131 sand traps and a unique alternative shot closing the 18th hole on this par 72 course. Practice facilities include a large bent grass driving range and tees with practice chipping and putting greens. The Den

3045-536: Is an indoor baseball and softball training facility. The Shira Baseball Complex consists of 6 fields of various sizes (four with lights) and a concession stand to accommodate McLean County baseball players ages 5–19. State Farm State Farm Insurance is a group of mutual insurance companies throughout the United States with corporate headquarters in Bloomington, Illinois . Founded in 1922, it

3150-550: Is believed to be the largest reported for a bad faith claim against State Farm in Illinois. State Farm was hit with a class-action lawsuit in California for allegedly breaching its contracts with drivers. The lead plaintiff, Joan St. Julian, claims that State Farm violated the law by failing to pay sales tax to drivers when reimbursing them for the " actual cash value " of their cars that were deemed total losses. According to

3255-476: Is home to Illinois Wesleyan University and the headquarters for State Farm and Country Financial . The Bloomington area was at the edge of a large grove occupied by the Kickapoo people before the first Euro-American settlers arrived in the early 1820s. Springing from the settlement of Keg Grove, later called Blooming Grove, Bloomington was named as county seat on December 25, 1830, when McLean County

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3360-608: Is home to both the IHSA Boys' Golf State Tournament and State Farm Youth Classic each summer. Located in South Bloomington, the Highland Park Golf Course has numerous challenges including creeks, three lakes, well-placed sand traps and tree-lined fairways. Highland Park sports a pro shop, carts, club rental and snack bar and offers individual or group lessons. The Highland Park Golf Course hosts

3465-877: Is home to the Bloomington Edge of the Indoor Football League and formerly the home of the PrairieThunder and Blaze of the Central Hockey League . Since 2014, it has been the home rink of the Central Illinois Flying Aces of the United States Hockey League , as well as hosting certain games of Illinois State University's club hockey team and local youth hockey programs. With over 180,000 square feet (17,000 m ) of space,

3570-524: Is open to walkers, runners, in-line skaters, skateboarders, cyclists, wheelchair users, and other non-motorized forms of transportation. During winter months, it is not cleared of snow, and is available to skiers; weather permitting. The Genevieve Green Gardens at Ewing Cultural Center were dedicated in 2007 as part of the Illinois State University's 150th anniversary celebration. Several architects and landscape designers contributed to

3675-568: Is surrounded by red sidewalks that list the names of Central Illinois residents killed or missing in action in the Korean and Vietnam battles. The Prairie Aviation Museum has a collection of preserved aircraft on display, including a Bell Sea Cobra, Huey helicopter, and F-14 Tomcat. The Evergreen Memorial Cemetery, also known as the Evergreen Cemetery is the burial site of many notable Bloomington-Normal citizens including members of

3780-491: Is the centerpiece of the city's Cultural District, which also includes the neighboring McLean County of Arts Center, forthcoming festival park, and creativity center for arts education. The center is also home to over twenty area performing arts ensembles. More than 400 performances and community events take place at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts each year. The Illinois Symphony Orchestra performs at

3885-552: Is the largest property, casualty , and auto insurance provider in the United States. State Farm is the largest property and casualty insurance provider, and the largest auto insurance provider, in the United States. State Farm is ranked 39th in the 2024 Fortune 500 , which lists American companies by revenue. State Farm relies on exclusive agents (also known as captive agents) to sell insurance. Only State Farm agents can sell State Farm insurance, and their agents can sell only State Farm products. State Farm has expanded into

3990-594: The Citizens Property Insurance Corporation run by the state government. State Farm has since decided to remain in Florida, although with a reduced amount of property policies. In 2010, State Farm and Renaissance jointly formed DaVinci Reinsurance Ltd. which insured more than 3.5 million homes in 2010. In 1981, Curtis Campbell caused an accident in which a man was killed and another was left permanently disabled. Both witnesses at

4095-548: The "Tomahawk" brand. The mill employed a baker to test the production by baking bread twice a day. The mill had a rail connection via a spur line of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad . The tracks were removed with the development of the Sugarland commercial district. Bloomington, Illinois Bloomington is a city in and the county seat of McLean County, Illinois , United States. The 2020 census showed

4200-470: The 2010 census, Bloomington has an area of 27.229 square miles (70.52 km ), of which 27.22 square miles (70.50 km ) (99.97%) is land and 0.009 square miles (0.02 km ) (0.03%) is water. In recent years, average temperatures in Bloomington have ranged from a low of 14 °F (−10 °C) in January to a high of 86 °F (30 °C) in July, although a record low of −23 °F (−31 °C)

4305-498: The 2020 Webby Award for Services & Utilities in the category Apps, Mobile & Voice. The State Farm settlement, a racketeering class action concluded with a $ 250 million agreement, involved allegations of potential corporate influence on the Illinois Supreme Court. According to the lawsuit's amended complaint, State Farm was accused of leveraging its influence and financial contributions to nonprofits such as

Sheridan Flouring Mills, Inc. - Misplaced Pages Continue

4410-596: The Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts, where it gives five Masterworks concerts, two Pops concerts, and three Chamber Orchestra concerts annually. The McLean County Arts Center is one of the oldest arts organizations in the Midwest, serving Central Illinois for over 130 years. Each year 12 art exhibitions are held, including the Holiday Treasurers exposition and sale, and the annual Amateur Competition and Exhibition which, for over 70 years, has showcased

4515-746: The Bloomington Parks & Recreation Department. The facility offers ice skating lessons, public skating sessions, a comprehensive hockey program, learn to curl and curling leagues, skate rental, and a concessions stand. In 2005, Golf Digest ranked Bloomington-Normal as the Fifth Best American City for Golf in its "Best in America" Metro Golf Rankings. Golf Digest ranked America's largest Metropolitan Statistical Areas on four different criteria: access to golf, weather, value of golf, and quality of golf. The Den at Fox Creek

4620-468: The City of Bloomington, performs two major theater productions each year. USA Ballet is an international ballet company. It provides children's workshops and outreach programs, and presents at Illinois Wesleyan University 's McPherson Theatre three times a year. American Passion Play was the oldest continuously performed Passion Play in the United States. Performed each spring at the Bloomington Center for

4725-457: The Cooks against the company, alleging negligence in various aspects of the claims process. Additionally, it was claimed that during arbitration, State Farm's lawyer introduced personal information that had been excluded as evidence, which was considered "willful and wanton conduct." State Farm agreed to a settlement of $ 650,000 and dropped its own suit against Bernadette Cook. The settlement amount

4830-583: The Davis family for three succeeding generations, contains the most modern conveniences of that era: a coal-burning stove, gas lighting and indoor plumbing. [1] The David Davis Mansion is an historic landmark on the National Register of Historic Places . The former building of the Montefiore synagogue is one of the few Moorish Revival buildings in Illinois and one of the oldest synagogues in

4935-548: The Internet or over the phone, and through agents. Home mortgages are available countrywide over the phone or through agents. In the 1950s, State Farm held a contest among the agents to come up with ideas to expand the State Farm business. Robert H. Kent, a State Farm agent in Chicago, came up with the idea of providing auto loans to existing policyholders. Robert H. Kent was friends with a local bank president at LaSalle NW, and

5040-757: The Jerome Mirza Theatre at McPherson Hall. Four main stage plays are performed here annually, selected from a playbill including everything from Shakespeare to musicals. McPherson Hall, completed in 1963, is named for IWU's 10th president, Harry W. McPherson, and contains a 300-seat theater, scene shop, classrooms and other facilities. The Illinois Wesleyan University Westbrook Auditorium serves approximately 200 music majors and several hundred IWU students each year. Several musical performances of all style periods are featured each semester, and most concerts are free with general seating. The Miller Park Outdoor Summer Theatre, an amateur theater group sponsored by

5145-654: The Performing Arts, the Passion Play was set in Palestine and portrays the life of Christ in its entirety, closing finally after its 100th year running in May 2023. The Illinois Shakespeare Festival includes productions performed in an open-air, Elizabethan-style theatre within historic Ewing Manor each summer. The audience is encouraged to picnic on the grounds before each performance to be entertained by strolling Madrigal singers, jesters, and other entertainers as well as

5250-471: The State Farm Florida subsidiary, the state's largest insurer, offered to withdraw from writing property insurance business in Florida after state regulators refused to approve a 47% property rate increase. State Farm said that, in Florida, it had paid out US$ 1.21 in claims for every dollar in premiums since 2000. Several other home insurers had pulled out of Florida as well; many homeowners used

5355-519: The State Farm Youth Classic and IHSA Boys' Golf State Finals, Prairie Vista hosted the 1997 NCAA Division I Women's Golf East Regional. There are two private country clubs within Bloomington: Bloomington Country Club and Lakeside Country Club. A third, Crestwicke Country Club, is just south of the city. All three have golf courses. The Grossinger Motors Arena in southwest downtown Bloomington opened in 2006 and

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5460-440: The State Farm Youth Classic each summer. The Links at Ireland Grove is Bloomington's newest public golf facility and first executive course. This nine-hole course consists of seven par 3's and two par 4's. The driving range has weather protected hitting bays, plus over 1-acre (4,000 m ) of target greens, several bunkers, and nearly 2 acres (8,100 m ) of natural grass hitting area. In addition, The Links Golf Academy offers

5565-456: The State Farm wordmark. According to Pam El, marketing vice president at State Farm, a change in image was needed to employ a bolder presence that could compete in today's digital world. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent company of several wholly owned State Farm subsidiaries : The State Farm jingle ("Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there") was written by American singer-songwriter Barry Manilow in 1971. A cover

5670-695: The Stevenson family. Adlai E. Stevenson I , vice president to Grover Cleveland, and Adlai E. Stevenson II , governor of Illinois. ambassador to the United Nations, and twice Democratic candidate for the United States presidency, are both buried there. Also buried there are Stevenson's wife, Letitia Green Stevenson, who was the second National President-General of the Daughters of the American Revolution , and her sister, Julia Green Scott,

5775-541: The U.S. Census Bureau conducted a special census of that city in February 2006, showing a population of 74,975, a 15.7% increase in less than six years. In 2010, there were 34,339 households, out of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.7% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.1% were non-families. 32.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.2% had someone living alone who

5880-617: The U.S. Chamber and the Illinois Civil Justice League. The claim stated that this alleged influence played a role in the appointment of a specific justice to the Illinois Supreme Court in 2004. Subsequently, the justice joined four other state justices in overturning a billion-dollar judgment against State Farm. State Farm has consistently denied any wrongdoing and maintains that the claims are without merit. In 2006, two former State Farm claims adjusters, sisters Cori and Kerri Rigsby , acted as whistleblowers and filed

5985-761: The United States . Other historical landmarks listed on the National Register of Historic Places : The Bloomington Parks & Recreation Department is composed of four divisions: Parks, Recreation, Golf, and the Miller Park Zoo. The department maintains over 1,100 acres (4.5 km ) of land including 44 park sites and three golf courses. These facilities often contain water spray parks, elaborate playgrounds, miniature golf, baseball/softball diamonds, soccer fields, cricket grounds, and lighted tennis courts. Outdoor public swimming pools are at O'Neil Park and Holiday Park. Miller Park Zoo offers many exhibits and zookeeper interaction opportunities. Zoo inhabitants include

6090-548: The United States with the goal of streamlining and improving processes. In 2014, it sold its operations in Canada to Desjardins Group , which continued to use the State Farm name. Canadian policies were transferred to be underwritten by Desjardins Group on January 1, 2015. The State Farm brand continued to be used for agents and marketing until 2018. In 2018, State Farm Canada was officially rebranded to Desjardins Insurance through Desjardins Insurance Agents. The whole transition

6195-481: The alleged sharing of their personal health information with Insurance Services Office Inc. (ISO), a company specializing in comprehensive risk management analysis, supported by an extensive database. Both federal HIPAA law and the Illinois state constitution expressly forbid the disclosure of health information without an individual's explicit consent. The plaintiffs maintain that ISO benefited financially by accumulating personal information for utilization within

6300-540: The arena boasts a fixed seating capacity of 7,000 but can seat over 8,000 for special events. The facility can also be set up as a theatre with a retractable curtain and enables shows to seat 2,500–5,000 in a more intimate atmosphere. Since the arena's opening, the facility has hosted an array of events including concerts, family shows, ice shows, motorsports, and trade shows. The Community Soccer Fields complex offers 20 soccer fields of various sizes used annually by 2,000 area soccer players. Extra Innings Bloomington/Normal

6405-748: The best amateur artists in Central Illinois. The Arts Center also sponsors a number of community events, such as the Sugar Creek Arts Festival in Uptown Normal and the Spring Bloom Arts Festival in Bloomington. The Community Players Theater, on Robinhood Lane off of Towanda Avenue, is one of the oldest community theaters completely staffed by volunteers. Opened in 1923, it celebrated its 88th season in 2011. The Castle Theatre first opened in 1916 as

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6510-419: The cars in the garage. A total of 43 of the damaged cars were insured by State Farm policy holders, to which State Farm paid out $ 1.5 million in payments to the garage's customers whose vehicles were damaged in the collapse. State Farm alleged that the owners "failed to properly operate, manage, maintain and/or control the garage", thus resulting in the collapse. In a civil RICO suit filed in 2005, State Farm

6615-407: The charges, despite them being dismissed. In the subsequent legal proceedings, Radcliff countersued State Farm, alleging defamation, abuse of process, and interference with business relationships. The case advanced to a jury trial, where Radcliff was awarded $ 14.5 million. State Farm appealed the decision. Radcliff won on two appeal processes and was awarded $ 17 million in damages and interest. In

6720-540: The city had a population of 78,680, making it the 13th-most populous city in Illinois and the fifth-most populous outside the Chicago metropolitan area . It is adjacent to the town of Normal , and is the more populous of the two principal municipalities of the Bloomington–Normal metropolitan area , which has a population of roughly 170,000. Bloomington is 135 miles (217 km) southwest of Chicago and 162 miles (261 km) northeast of St. Louis . Bloomington

6825-505: The city was $ 58,662, and the median income for a family was $ 81,166. Males had a median income of $ 56,597 versus $ 39,190 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 32,672. About 5.7% of families and 11.0% of the population were below the poverty line , including 12.6% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over. Bloomington is home to State Farm Insurance , Country Financial , Illinois Agricultural Association , and Beer Nuts . The original Steak 'n Shake restaurant

6930-419: The city was 77.5% White, 10.1% African American, 0.3% Native American, 7.0% Asian , 1.42% from other races , and 2.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.6% of the population. The City of Bloomington and McLean County comprise the fastest-growing metropolitan area in Illinois. The area's population has grown 28% from 1990 through 2006. The fastest growth has been in Bloomington, as

7035-441: The city's first female and Jewish mayor. During her two terms as mayor, an arena was built in downtown Bloomington and the city's performing arts center began restoration. Bloomington also approved a gay rights ordinance in 2002. In 2021, Mboka Mwilambwe was elected as the city's first black mayor. Bloomington is located at 40°29′03″N 88°59′37″W. The city is at an elevation of 797 feet (243 m) above sea level. According to

7140-608: The company underestimated the costs of rebuilding and delayed claim payments. One attorney representing two families, stated that numerous families were experiencing delays of up to a year in receiving payment from State Farm. Another plaintiff alleged that State Farm undervalued his home by less than half the actual rebuilding cost and delayed payment for the coverage of personal property. The lawsuits cite Colorado's statute that penalizes insurance companies for unreasonable payment delays. The Tubbs Fire occurred in October 2017. It

7245-506: The construction of highways and railroads, and the growth of the insurance business all influenced the growth of Bloomington and its downtown. Most notably, State Farm was founded in June 1922 by retired farmer George J. Mecherle as a mutual automobile insurance company specializing in insurance for farmers. The 1917 Bloomington Streetcar Strike was a labor dispute starting on May 28, 1917, when Amalgamated Transit Union Local 752 called

7350-637: The county. People came from all over to trade and do business at the town's center, known today as Downtown Bloomington, including Abraham Lincoln , who worked as a lawyer in nearby Springfield . Prominent Bloomington resident Jesse W. Fell , who founded the Bloomington Pantagraph and was most prominent in local real estate, had suggested the Lincoln-Douglas debates in 1854 and played a prominent role in pushing Lincoln to run for president. In 1900, an officer on patrol discovered

7455-401: The defendant in a case where they accused him of fourteen felony counts, including corrupt business influence and attempted theft. State Farm based these charges on fabricated evidence claiming that Radcliff had vandalized roofs in order to file fraudulent insurance claims. However, all charges against Radcliff were eventually dismissed. Radcliff's business lost 385 out of 400 jobs as a result of

7560-688: The duration time of incidents, assist disabled drivers and remove road debris . Turnpikes which currently participate include, Florida's Turnpike in the State of Florida and the Pennsylvania Turnpike in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania . In Ohio , State Farm–branded safety patrol vans service major highways in the Cincinnati , Toledo , Cleveland , Columbus , Dayton , Akron , and Canton areas on weekdays. State Farm won

7665-417: The extensive project of creating the gardens, including input from Bruce V. Green, an avid gardener whose $ 5.2 million donation spearheaded the project. The gardens include a public entry that directs visitors to a formal plaza, the entrance to the manor, a grass patio, theater walk with a widened walkway, and additional plantings. The Bloomington Ice Center is an indoor public ice skating facility operated by

7770-520: The families of two car crash victims for whom Campbell was responsible, despite originally informing him and his family "that their assets were safe, that they had no liability for the accident, that [State Farm] would represent their interests, and that they did not need to procure separate counsel". On April 18, 2023, a parking garage in Manhattan's Financial District collapsed. The collapse killed one worker and injured five others, as well as crushing

7875-472: The financial services arena, such as banking and mutual funds. The bank opened in May 1999 and is operated by State Farm Financial Services, FSB, a subsidiary of State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. These are separate from its insurance products. State Farm Bank does not have branch offices. Its regular banking services, which include checking and savings accounts, certificates of deposit, and money market accounts, are available to consumers countrywide via

7980-461: The heels of criminal investigations by the states of Louisiana and Mississippi, alleging that State Farm had wrongly denied claims stemming from Hurricane Katrina . Plaintiff's attorney Richard F "Dickie" Scruggs later pleaded guilty in March 2008 for his role in trying to pay Judge Henry Lackey of Mississippi a US$ 50,000 bribe for a favorable ruling in a related case involving a US$ 26.5 million settlement after Hurricane Katrina. In early 2009,

8085-455: The hotel renovation, the interior partitions were removed from the mill building and new windows were installed, partially closing the openings with masonry. The grain elevators had a capacity in the 1930s of 410,000 bushels of grain. They are now abandoned and their machinery has been removed. The mill's products included wheat cereal and biscuit, doughnut, waffle and pancake flour, marketed as "Best Out West." Animal feed products were sold under

8190-455: The insurance industry, including by State Farm. In a sex discrimination lawsuit against State Farm in 1985, Judge Thelton Henderson approved a settlement that requires the company to pay up to $ 420,000 each to women who were denied jobs as insurance agents in California due to gender discrimination. The settlement, limited to California residents due to the class action nature of the lawsuit, also stipulates that women must receive 50 percent of

8295-475: The jury's decision, indicating that they would explore legal options, including a possible appeal. In 2015, Charles and Bernadette Cook were involved in a car crash where their vehicle struck an uninsured vehicle stopped sideways in their traffic lane. The Cooks had coverage through State Farm against uninsured motorists and filed a claim accordingly. According to their policy, State Farm was obligated to pay up to $ 250,000 per person or $ 500,000 per occurrence, with

8400-479: The lawsuit, State Farm systematically underpaid claims made by thousands of consumers who experienced total vehicle loss. The lawsuit alleges that State Farm processed around 115,000 total loss claims during the relevant period, with approximately 10 percent of those claims not being paid the sales tax owed. As of May 27, 2023, State Farm has ceased accepting new applicants for business and personal casualty insurance in California. State Farm states that this decision

8505-434: The lawyers mentioned in the list. State Farm paid out $ 30 million to Todd Hindin and his clients for discrimination on the basis of religion and national origin. Documents that Hindin uncovered would assist in another case in 2003, Campbell v. State Farm , in which State Farm had to pay out $ 145 million in punitive damages (later reduced by the U.S. Supreme Court) after acting in bad faith. State Farm had to pay damages to

8610-465: The problem that has occurred. Each of these commercials follows a similar structure. A group of one to three people find themselves in an unfortunate situation. Someone in the group will then call on their State Farm agent by singing the jingle “like a good neighbor, State Farm is there”. A State Farm agent will then appear, as if by magic, and help the group out with their problem. There are a few commercials that deviate from this structure, but still follow

8715-441: The same ultimate pattern. Also in 2011, State Farm premiered its "State of..." advertising campaign. One notable commercial, "State of Unrest", shows a man awake at 3:00 in the morning on the phone with a State Farm representative. The man's wife sees him talking on the phone in a secretive manner. She is suspicious and asks who is on the phone, to which her husband says: "It's Jake from State Farm" (the original Jake from State Farm

8820-403: The scene confirmed Campbell was at fault. State Farm contested liability and declined settlement offers from the victim's estates. State Farm assured Campbell that "their assets were safe, that they had no liability for the accident, that [State Farm] would represent their interests, and that they did not need to procure separate counsel." Despite State Farm contesting liability, the jury rendered

8925-510: The seventh National President-General of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Other historical figures buried there include David Davis , friend and mentor to Abraham Lincoln; Charles Radbourn , arguably 19th-century baseball's greatest pitcher; and Dorothy Gage, inspiration for the main character in the Wizard of Oz and niece of author L. Frank Baum . The David Davis Mansion offers

9030-482: The two teamed up to pilot the auto finance program. State Farm liked the idea so much that it was rolled out to all the agents. Robert H. Kent received royalties on the program for 20 years. State Farm was founded in June 1922 by retired farmer George J. Mecherle as a mutual automobile insurance company owned by its policyholders. The firm specialized in auto insurance for farmers and offered better rates than rival companies, which must also cover expensive premiums of

9135-501: The urban motorists. It later expanded services into other types of insurance, such as homeowners and life insurance, and then to banking and financial services. As of December 2, 2017, State Farm had 70,000 employees and 19,000 agents. February 2014 figures show the group servicing 80 million policies in the United States and Canada, of which over 44,000,000 are for automobiles, 27,000,000 are for fire, 7,000,000 for life, and more than 2 million bank accounts. Michael L. Tipsord

9240-615: The verdict. As part of the $ 100 million settlement, State Farm dismissed its counterclaims against the whistleblowers, which alleged breaches of employment agreements and violations of other laws. The $ 100 million in restitution will be paid to the federal government, not individual policyholders. A 2007 investigation by CNN reported that major car insurance companies, including State Farm and Allstate Insurance, were increasingly fighting claims of those alleging injury. Some injured parties argued these were unfair practices. State Farm and Allstate have denied these allegations. This followed on

9345-477: The victim's estate would represent Campbell in the bad-faith suit. In 1989, Campbell's appeal was denied by the Utah Supreme Court. State Farm then paid the entire amount of the judgement, including the excess amount they previously denied to pay. Campbell proceeded to file suit against State Farm for bad faith, fraud, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The Utah Supreme Court reinstated

9450-487: The year the McLean County Historical Society was founded. Housed inside the old McLean County Courthouse, the museum features permanent and rotating exhibits that explore the history of Central Illinois. This location is listed on the National Register of Historic Places . The Miller Park Pavilion & War Memorial was restored in 1977 and dedicated in May 1988. The black granite memorial

9555-402: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 3.12. In the city, the population was spread out, with 27.3% under the age of 20, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 45, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.4 males. The median income for a household in

9660-478: Was accused of directing other doctors and employees to perform medically inappropriate and unnecessary services. According to the lawsuit, Lincow also hired Sacks to misinterpret diagnostic tests as positive to exhaust available medical coverage. Additionally, Lincow was accused of orchestrating a kickback scheme with Hirsh's pharmacy, in which unnecessary prescriptions were filled in exchange for inflated rent payments. All nine defendants were found to be participants in

9765-604: Was awarded over $ 15.4 million by a federal jury in a case involving alleged medical fraud. Arnold Lincow, and ostoepathic doctor, along with eight other defendants, were accused of inflating patients' medical bills to defraud insurers systematically. State Farm claimed in court documents that Lincow devised a scheme to inflate the medical bills of car accident victims by prescribing unnecessary tests, treatments, prescriptions, and medical equipment. The scheme allegedly involved fabricating treatment records, falsifying injury descriptions, and submitting bills for services not rendered. Lincow

9870-441: Was completed in 2019. On May 28, 2023, the company announced it would stop issuing new home insurance policies in California due to wildfire risks as well as surging costs for construction. The State Farm interlocked red tri-oval logo was created in the mid-to-late 1940s and updated in 1953. For nearly 60 years, this design depicting three interlocking ovals representing the company's core business of auto, life and fire insurance

9975-643: Was created. When the County of McLean was incorporated, a county seat was established, but the legislation stated the site of Bloomington "would be located later." Gavin Quinn, one of the new county's promoters, offered to donate 60 acres (240,000 m ) of his land for the new town. His offer was accepted, and Bloomington was laid out. Its lots were sold at a well-attended and noisy auction on July 4, 1831. At this time there were few roads, but rich soils brought new farmers who began commerce by conducting their business in

10080-403: Was critical to its brand image. On December 15, 2011, State Farm decided to transform its interlocked tri-oval logo to a contemporary logo to showcase the company's core service offerings of auto, fire, and life insurance. The new logo was introduced January 1, 2012, in celebration of the company's 90th anniversary. It consists of a simple three-oval design with no wording in the ovals adjacent to

10185-578: Was designed by Bloomington architect Phil Hooten in the Channel-Norman style favored by the affluent in the post-Victorian period. The surrounding gardens were created by noted landscape architect Jens Jensen, who also designed Springfield's Lincoln Memorial Gardens . The theatre on the grounds play host to the Illinois Shakespeare Festival each summer. The McLean County Museum of History traces its roots back to 1892,

10290-535: Was made due to "historic increases in construction costs outpacing inflation, rapidly growing catastrophe exposure, and a challenging reinsurance market." California has had over 15,000 wildfires from 2021 to 2023, partially due to a dry, windy and hot climate. More than 2.7 million people live in "very high fire hazard severity zones". Several survivors of the East Troublesome Fire in October 2020 have filed lawsuits against State Farm, alleging that

10395-479: Was not a matter of discrimination, but of coincidence. Frank Taylor, an experienced economist on retainer for the Appellants, argued that though the states involved contained 2-5% Jewish populations, the list contained 14% religiously or ethnically Jewish lawyers. People who had worked for State Farm, including former Divisional Claim Superintendent Ron Middler, testified that the list was potentially used to screen

10500-510: Was one of California's most destructive fires, burning 36,810 acres (14,900 ha) and allegedly killed 22 people. Six months after the fire, a large number of people claimed that State Farm had refused to pay them in full despite losing everything they owned. To get their full payout, they had to create a detailed, item-by-item list of everything that was lost, or their payout was reduced by 25%. Policyholders stated that they received letters from State Farm, suggesting California code has required

10605-470: Was opened in Normal, Bloomington's adjoining city, in 1934. It also has the largest Dairy Queen restaurant. According to Bloomington's 2018 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the area's top employers are: Bloomington is also home to a convention center at the McLean County Fairgrounds and Grossinger Motors Arena . Bloomington is the only town where Beer Nuts brand snacks are made. There are two Beer Nuts company stores in Bloomington, each offering

10710-627: Was portrayed by Jake Stone, who was an actual employee of the company). The man's wife then takes the phone and asks, "What are you wearing, 'Jake from State Farm?'", to which the male agent responds in a timid way, "Uh, khakis ". The undaunted wife says, "She sounds hideous", and the husband replies, "Well she's a guy, so..." In May 2015, a variation of "State of Unrest" premiered, starring The Coneheads from Saturday Night Live , with Dan Aykroyd and Jane Curtin reprising their respective roles as Beldar and Prymaat. This ad series later added Laraine Newman as Connie. In late 2014, State Farm released

10815-550: Was recorded in January 1985 and a record high of 114 °F (46 °C) was recorded on July 15, 1936, during the 1936 North American heat wave . Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.71 inches (43 mm) in February to 4.52 inches (115 mm) in May. As of the 2010 census , there were 76,610 people and 30,454 households within the city. The population density was 2,814.8 inhabitants per square mile (1,086.8/km ). There were 34,339 housing units at an average density of 1,261.5 per square mile (487.1/km ). The racial makeup of

10920-413: Was released by Weezer in 2011. State Farm's first commercial jingle was created for The Jack Benny Program in the 1960s. In June 2011, State Farm's premiered its "Get to a Better State" campaign. This campaign focuses on making humor out of unfortunate problems that are commonly faced. These commercials then make light of the situation by demonstrating how easy it is to contact an agent and correct

11025-596: Was the top digital advertiser in Finance in 2023. USA Today 's Ad Meter selected State Farm's entry "Like a Good Neighbaaa" as the top ad in Super Bowl LVIII . The spot features Arnold Schwarzenegger struggling with the word "neighbor" in the company's tagline until he gets assistance from his Twins co-star Danny DeVito as well as Jake from State Farm. State Farm Safety Patrol – State Farm, in partnership with several U.S. highway authorities, operates

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