Max Edlin v. Firemen's Insurance Company

FINNEGAN, Circuit Judge.

Seven defendant fire insurance companies resisted plaintiff’s claim, under seven policies, for loss by fire, occurring November 28,1952, to his Peoria, Illinois store’s contents and merchandise. No claim was made for damage to plaintiff’s building. For their principal defense, and reason for denying all liability to plaintiff, these insurers contended he willfully and maliciously set fire to his property and was precluded from recovery since his sworn proofs of loss, delivered to defendants January 16, 1953, recited that the cause of fire was unknown to plaintiff…