A New York-based insurance company has filed a federal lawsuit against two contractors who, it claims, failed to properly cover a hole in the roof of St. Demetrius Catholic Church, Gallitzin, despite warnings of a rainstorm that occurred in September 2021.

The storm that ensued did major damage to the church, and the Westchester Surplus Lines Insurance Co. is seeking to recoup the cost of repairs, which it stated in the lawsuit amounted to $1,425,665.

The company provided insurance coverage at the time for the Altoona-Johnstown Roman Catholic Diocese.

Damage was so severe to the church that services were moved to the nearby activity center for a 10-month period, according to Pastor Albert H. Ledoux.

Repairs were completed by last July, and the congregation is once again able to use the church, the pastor reported.

In the federal lawsuit that was made public Monday, attorney Daniel J. Luccaro of Philadelphia is asking that the insurance company be reimbursed for its expenses.

The lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court in Johnstown named Guardian Roofing & Sealing LLC of Lakemont and a Guardian subcontractor, LA Roofing LLC of Manassas, Va., as defendants.

According to the allegations, the diocese in April 2021 entered into a contract with Guardian to replace the roof of the church.

Part of the work was subcontracted by Guardian to LA Roofing.

On Sept. 9, 2021, the roofers removed large portions of the church’s roof, the lawsuit reported.

This occurred even though “a significant forecasted rainstorm blew through the property,” the lawsuit continued.

The roofers, it is charged, failed to properly tarp the roof as protection against the rain.

The inside of the church “sustained significant water damage as a result of rain coming in through the area where defendants had removed the roof,” according to the civil lawsuit.

It also claims that Guardian hired a subcontractor, who was not properly insured.

The contractors could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.

The case has been assigned to the U.S. District Judge Stephanie L. Haines.

Haines on Monday placed the case in the court’s Alternative Dispute Resolution program.

The program provides alternative ways to settle cases.