Lewis v. Buena Vista Mutual Insurance Association

UHLENHOPP, Justice.

The question before us in this action on a fire insurance policy is whether defendant should be permitted to endeavor to establish its defense of arson.

Plaintiff Connie Lewis owned a house and contents in Nemaha, Iowa. She obtained a fire insurance policy covering that property from defendant Buena Vista Mutual Insurance Association. Subsequently the house and contents were destroyed by fire.

Defendant did not pay the loss and plaintiff brought this action on the policy. Evidently the matter was attended with some publicity, as plaintiff first demanded a jury, then waived…