Bad neighbor: Leonard Steinberg’s insurance firm sues Nicole Kidman

Company claims burst pipe from actress' apartment caused damage in top broker's pad

From left: Nicole Kidman, 200 11th Avenue and Leonard Steinberg
From left: Nicole Kidman, 200 11th Avenue and Leonard Steinberg

UPDATED, 12:39 p.m., Jan. 6: Star broker Leonard Steinberg’s insurance company is suing Academy Award winner Nicole Kidman for allegedly causing flooding in his apartment. Urban Compass’ Steinberg and Kidman live in the same West Chelsea apartment building, Young Woo’s 200 11th Avenue. Nationwide Property & Casualty, the insurance firm that represents the broker, filed suit against the Australian actress for $46,929 in damages caused by a burst pipe in Kidman’s apartment, according to the New York Daily News.

Nationwide claims that Kidman hired New Industries Inc., an authorized contractor, to install a copper pipe that would bring water to her apartment’s terrace, according to the newspaper. The contractor, however, didn’t install any insulation or heat tape around the pipe, according to the complaint. Cold weather caused the pipe to burst, which sent a flood of icy water into Steinberg’s condo.

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Kidman bought her condo in December 2010, together with her country music star husband Keith Urban. Kidman, Urban and their two daughters spend most of their time in Nashville, Tenn. Steinberg also bought his condo in the building in 2010. [NYDN] — Claire Moses