State Farm Fire & Casualty Co. v. Sawyer

BEATTY, Justice.

State Farm Fire and Casualty Company and Ronald J. Lippe (hereinafter “plaintiffs”) appeal from the trial court’s denial of their motion for new trial, which followed a jury verdict for the defendant, James Hollis Sawyer.1 We affirm.

The plaintiffs brought this action against Sawyer for negligently or wantonly causing or allowing a fire to ignite in a residence owned by plaintiff Lippe and rented to Sawyer. The house was a total loss. Auto-Owners Insurance Company, Sawyer’s insurer, was added as a defendant because of its failure or refusal to provide insurance coverage on this…