C.L. Maddox, Inc. v. Royal Insurance Co. of America

C.L. Maddox, Inc. (insured), brought this action in the St. Clair County circuit court on a policy of insurance issued by the Royal Insurance Company of America (Royal), for damages to its business premises. The damage occurred at approximately 3:30 a.m. on August 19, 1981, as a result of an incendiary explosion and fire. Minutes before the explosion, 10-year-old Tammy Pankey reportedly saw Curtis L. Maddox, president and sole shareholder of the insured, enter and leave the insured building. Based on the incendiary nature of the explosion and fire and witness Pankey’s identification of the…