Apr 5, 2006

It happens only in America

True story (courtesy Suro)

A 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 a
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 .. 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 to the lawyer for his loss of the rare cigars lost in the "fires."

NOW FOR THE BEST PART...

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
fine.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have heard this story before. Lawyers and insurance companies are the biggest con artists you will find in America. I don't know which makes people here happier....seeing the insurance companies pay up or watching the lawyers being thrown in jail!!!

Anonymous said...

I have heard this story before. Lawyers and insurance companies are the biggest con artists you will find in America. I don't know which makes people here happier....seeing the insurance companies pay up or watching the lawyers being thrown in jail!!!

Shuv said...

i had heard one about a robber who slipped on a loose tile on someone's roof and broke his leg. while in jail he sued the owner of the house for damages and won! all yanks are crazy man!

Anonymous said...

there was a dispute going on in heaven on a small piece of land.So lord indra told yama to settle the matter outside the court.
yama said "No way.i would love to see u in court.there is no way u can win this case."
Lord Indra was surprised "how could u be so sure?"
to which yama smiled"come on, all the lawyers are here in hell."

Anonymous said...

Yes Ofcourse!! but you forgot that all the judges are in heaven???

Shuv said...

hey anon..thanks for dropping by..but pls pls let me know how of all the 150 posts u managed to land up on this inconsequential post..and commented..and didnt leave a name...