I thought I'd share this email here in my blog instead of forwarding it around. So here it is:

Date: September 24, 2002

A Charlotte, NC, lawyer purchased a box of very rare and expensive cigars, then insured them against fire among other things. Within a month having smoked his entire stockpile of these great cigars and without yet having made even his first premium payment on the policy, the lawyer filed claim against the insurance company.

In his claim, the lawyer stated 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....

Extended Entry Below

The lawyer sued....and won!

In delivering the ruling the judge agreed with the insurance company that the claim was frivolous. The Judge stated nevertheless, 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 considered to be unacceptable fire," and was obligated to pay the claim.

Rather than endure lengthy and costly appeal process, the insurance company accepted the ruling and paid $15,000.00 to the lawyer for his loss of the rare cigars lost in the "fires."

After the lawyer cashed the check, 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 was sentenced to 24 months in jail and a $24,000.00 fine.

This is a true story and was the 1st place winner in the recent Criminal Lawyers Award Contest.
ONLY IN AMERICA!

--- Thomas Clark

Replies: 7 Brilliant Ideas

If in fact this is a true story, he would be disbarred because of the felony convictions.

Posted by Sledgehammer @ 11/25/2002 11:31 AM PST

This never happened.
http://www.urbanlegends.com/legal/cigar_fire_insurance.html

There is what is known as the "friendly fire" rule in insurance law. The principle is that a fire is not a "fire" within the meaning of a casualty insurance policy if it burns normally and stays within its intended limits. The most common example is that of a bakery insured against loss from "fire." Burning a cake in the oven is generally understood not to be a loss from "fire" because the fire stayed in the oven. Similarly, a lit cigar is not a "fire" within the meaning of a fire insurance policy as long as the only the cigar burns.

Posted by cigarz @ 11/22/2002 09:30 AM PST

I think it's a hilarious and the fact that the lawyer smoked makes him so stupid before paying the calim and if they're ultra rare why did he smoke them?

Posted by Ghet-to Gurl @ 11/18/2002 01:57 PM PST

Hello boys!!

Posted by chick_that_flirts @ 11/16/2002 07:04 PM PST

Here's an idea claim INSANITY they were really stupid in givin insurence for fire on a CIGAR I think it's hilarious.

Posted by Sugerfreak @ 11/16/2002 04:16 AM PST

hiiiiiiiiiiiiiii! *hugs* love the story hehe

Posted by Cyn @ 11/15/2002 06:27 PM PST

*cackles with glee* This is a great story! Nice idea to put it here, that way more people get to see it :) I can actually imagine this happening, but even if it's not true, it's still really funny! :)

Posted by Nyx Elfheart @ 11/15/2002 05:09 PM PST