Farm Bureau Insurance Group v. Phillips

Following a bench trial in Charlevoix County District Court, plaintiff received a judgment of no cause of action in its suit against defendant, a minor, for fire damage to the barn of plaintiffs subrogee. The Charlevoix Circuit Court sustained the decision, and plaintiff now appeals by leave granted.

Defendant was eight years old when the incident giving rise to this lawsuit occurred. Defendant took some matches from the kitchen of his parents’ home and, intending to cook some food, went behind his neighbors’ barn to light a fire. His parents had on occasion showed him how to light matches and…