Nicolai v. Transcontinental Insurance

This is an action on a fire insurance policy issued by the defendant, Transcontinental Insurance Company. The insurance covered the home and furnishings of the named insureds, Paul R. Ward and Nellie A. Ward, who were husband and wife. The policy provided that their legal representatives should likewise be named insureds.

The home and the furnishings were destroyed by fire, and Nellie A. Ward lost her life as a consequence of the fire. Paul R. Ward disappeared from sight four days before the fire, and has not been seen since, at least in the state of Washington.

In the absence of Mr. Ward, a…