PONTIAC -- A local insurance firm which had its license taken away by the state in September is now facing another lawsuit.

Hendrix Town and Country Inc., a Herscher business which specializes in the design, sales and service of grain handling, drying and storage systems, is suing Earl D. Bertsche and Bertsche and Berry Inc., 321 W. Madison St., for $111,070.

According to lawsuit, documents filed Wednesday in Livingston County Circuit Court, Bertsche sold Hendrix a business owner's policy and a worker's compensation and liability insurance policy. Hendrix paid $111,070 and then discovered in August that the policies were not valid, the file said.

This is the second lawsuit against the insurance company. The Bank of Pontiac filed one in September over more than $1 million in unpaid loan extensions and fees from two checking accounts.

A status hearing for that suit is scheduled for November.

Authorities have said Bertsche's license was revoked by the Illinois Department of Insurance after a probe beginning in 2007 discovered that Bertsche allegedly issued four certificates of insurance which were not valid because premiums were not paid.

That state agency is accusing Bertsche of withholding thousands of dollars in premiums due insurers, issuing fake certificates of insurance and defaulting on a $334,000 promissory note.