Cunningham v. Millers General Insurance

Plaintiffs, John T. Cunningham and Cora L. Cunningham, appeal from a jury verdict entered in the circuit court of Macon County in favor of defendant, Millers General Insurance Company. Plaintiffs argue the trial court improperly allowed the jury to hear evidence of a prior fire at plaintiffs’ property. We disagree and affirm.

Plaintiffs owned and occupied a residence in Decatur, Illinois, which was insured against fire by defendant. At about 1 a.m. on March 1, 1987, after Cora Cunningham returned from working a 3:30 p.m. to 12 midnight shift, plaintiffs left to visit relatives in Chicago. A…