Mastland, Inc. v. Evans Furniture, Inc.

LAVORATO, Justice.

This lawsuit arises out of a fire caused by a child who was playing with a cigarette lighter in his crib. The landlord sued the tenants and the child’s mother for damages to its property caused by the fire. The landlord relied on two theories for recovery: negligence and breach of lease. In a bench trial, the district court found against the landlord on both theories. We affirm.

I. Backgrounds Facts and Proceedings.

Jack Evans signed a “Dwelling Unit Rental Agreement” on a single family residence in his name and apparently on behalf of Evans Furniture, Inc. Mastland, Inc., a…