Case Study

Our investigation started with an interview of the occupant of the dwelling of fire origin. He was home and was doing laundry while listening to music on the radio in the first-floor kitchen. He left and went upstairs to put clothes away and clean up. He heard the smoke detectors sounding, smelled smoke, went downstairs to the kitchen and saw the back of the radio on fire. He attempted to extinguish the fire but it spread to a barn board wall next to an open window and was growing rapidly. He evacuated and called the fire department. By the time they arrived the house was totally involved and the fire was spreading to the house next door.

Our investigation was conducted by excavating the basement of the dwelling of fire origin and sifting the large amount of fire debris consisting of household articles and electrical devices.

Our investigation, based on the burn patterns and reported information, confirmed the area of fire origin to be the first-floor kitchen on the ocean side. The sifting of large amounts of fire debris uncovered parts of the kitchen radio and related electrical devices.

Based on our investigation and a purchase of exempla radios, research, electrical testing and fire scene reconstruction, we were able to determine the cause of the fire was an internal failure of the radio. After several depositions, further research and trial preparation a settlement to our client was granted in excess of $3 million dollars for insurance coverage of multiple dwellings.