Mears v. Columbia Mutual Insurance Co.

HANNA, Judge.

Defendant, Columbia Mutual Insurance Company (Columbia), appeals the jury verdict of $131,860, awarded to plaintiffs, Dorothy Mears and Donal McCloud. Plaintiffs claimed that defendant wrongfully denied coverage under a homeowner’s policy for damages sustained as a result of a fire at their residence on November 1, 1988.

Plaintiffs purchased a house in Grain Valley, Jackson County, Missouri in early October 1988. At approximately the same time, they purchased a homeowner’s policy with Columbia through Norman Kuecker, an insurance agent. In obtaining insurance for the house,…