Carpchasser
25-07-2002, 11:14
A Charlotte, North Carolina lawyer purchased a very rare and expensive box
of cigars, and insured them against fire among other things.
Within a month of having smoked his entire stockpile of these great cigars,
and without having made even his first premium payment on the policy, the
lawyer filed a claim against the insurance company.
In his claim, the lawyer stated that the cigars were lost 'in a series of
small fires'.
The insurance company refused to pay, citing the obvious reason: That the
man had consumed the cigars in the normal fashion. The lawyer sued and won.
In delivering the ruling the judge agreed with the insurance company that
the claim was frivolous, however the judge stated that the lawyer held a
policy from the company in which it had warranted that the cigars were
insurable and also guaranteed that it would insure them against fire,
without defining what is to be considered 'unacceptable fire', and was
obligated to pay the claim.
Rather than endure a lengthy and costly appeal process, the insurance
company accepted the ruling and paid $15,000 to the lawyer for the loss of
his rare cigars in the 'fires'.
NOW FOR THE BEST PART...
After the lawyer cashed the cheque, the insurance company had him arrested
on 24 counts of arson. With his own insurance claim and testimony from the
previous case being used against him, the lawyer was convicted of
intentionally burning his insured property and sentenced to 24 months in
jail and a $24,000 fine.
Apparently this is a true story and was the first place in the recent
Criminal Lawyers Award Contest.
of cigars, and insured them against fire among other things.
Within a month of having smoked his entire stockpile of these great cigars,
and without having made even his first premium payment on the policy, the
lawyer filed a claim against the insurance company.
In his claim, the lawyer stated that the cigars were lost 'in a series of
small fires'.
The insurance company refused to pay, citing the obvious reason: That the
man had consumed the cigars in the normal fashion. The lawyer sued and won.
In delivering the ruling the judge agreed with the insurance company that
the claim was frivolous, however the judge stated that the lawyer held a
policy from the company in which it had warranted that the cigars were
insurable and also guaranteed that it would insure them against fire,
without defining what is to be considered 'unacceptable fire', and was
obligated to pay the claim.
Rather than endure a lengthy and costly appeal process, the insurance
company accepted the ruling and paid $15,000 to the lawyer for the loss of
his rare cigars in the 'fires'.
NOW FOR THE BEST PART...
After the lawyer cashed the cheque, the insurance company had him arrested
on 24 counts of arson. With his own insurance claim and testimony from the
previous case being used against him, the lawyer was convicted of
intentionally burning his insured property and sentenced to 24 months in
jail and a $24,000 fine.
Apparently this is a true story and was the first place in the recent
Criminal Lawyers Award Contest.