Lawsuit claims city council member is living outside district for the last 4 years

 

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Black Lives Matter South Bend is calling for the removal of a common council member. They claim 3rd District representative, Sharon McBride, has not actually lived in her district for an extended period of time.

This stems from an insurance claim McBride filed back in August of 2020, after a leak in her roof caused water damage and mold.

McBride filed a lawsuit one year later against 'Citizens Insurance Company of the Midwest', claiming certain coverage was wrongfully denied and the company was in breach of contract.

Earlier this month, her insurance company filed this 39-page motion which claims:

• Payments of over $43,000 has been paid to McBride, which they argue is the full extent of what she is entitled to.
• The company is claiming no repairs have been made inside the home, just repairs to the roof.
• They claim McBride has been living and paying rent to her mother for over four years.

ABC57 News has confirmed through records that McBride's mother Delores Walker lives in South Bend's 2nd District not the 3rd District.

According to the municipal code of the City of South Bend, "Any councilmember representing any district [who] ceases to be a resident of such district ... such office shall thereby become immediately vacant."

This is not the first controversy surrounding McBride.

Earlier this year, St. Joseph County Commissioners removed McBride and fired her mother from the DuComb Center after an internal investigation.

McBride's Attorney Peter Agostino told ABC57 News that his client regularly takes breaks at the home, gets her mail, and inspects the property for further damage.

He also stated McBride does not often sleep at the residence and her primary concern is mold.