Melton by and Through Melton v. Larrabee

Opinion by

Judge RULAND.

Plaintiffs, Bryan and Nancy Melton and their children, appeal from a judgment entered upon a jury verdict in favor of defendant, Donald Larrabee, Jr., in a negligence claim. We affirm.

Between 1977 and 1979, defendant, with the assistance of his father-in-law, built an addition to his residence. While constructing this addition, defendant installed water pipes on an exterior wall and insulated them with heat-tape and fiberglass. Later, plaintiffs leased the residence.

Approximately seven months after plaintiffs occupied the residence, it was destroyed by a fire. At trial,…