Priest v. Central State Fire Insurance

Action for both actual and punitive damages for slander. Plaintiff recovered $100 actual and $2900 punitive damages. Defendant appealed.

The defendant is engaged in the fine insurance business and through its agent at Poplar Bluff, where plaintiff resides, issued to plaintiff an insurance policy upon her household goods located in her residence in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. This policy was for the sum of $1500 and dated August 7, 1925. On August 21, 1925, these goods were practically all destroyed by fire. The defendant sent one Wilber M. Bressler to Poplar Bluff to investigate this loss and make…