Lieberman v. Atlantic Mutual Insurance

On May 1, 1959, W. R. Nelson, the documented owner of the Jamene, wilfully and deliberately ignited gasoline vapor in the Jamene while it was docked in Seattle, thereby causing an explosion and ensuing fire which virtually destroyed the vessel. Subsequently, Mendel Lieberman and Meyer Winkleman (plaintiffs-appellants), in their individual capacities, brought this suit against nine insurance companies (defendants-respondents) to recover for the loss of the Jamene under the terms of policies issued by those companies.

The trial court, sitting without a jury, rendered an oral opinion favorable to…