Wilson v. Cooke

Plaintiff lessor appeals after the trial court, sitting without a jury, found against him on his claim for damages arising out of the alleged negligence of his lessee, defendant. Plaintiff alleged that defendant’s negligence caused a fire that destroyed plaintiffs building. The trial court ruled that plaintiff failed to prove that defendant’s negligence caused the fire. We affirm.

Plaintiff owned a commercial building in Lyons, Oregon, that he leased to defendant. Defendant was the building’s only tenant. In the building, defendant operated a woodworking business that produced cedar hot tub…