Thomas v. Farm Bureau Ins. Co. of Ark.

Darrell Hickman, Justice.

Charles Ray Thomas insured his 1970 John Deere combine with Farm Bureau on October 2, 1981. It was destroyed by fire the next day. After Farm Bureau refused Thomas’ claim, Thomas sued the company for the loss of the combine and included a claim for the tort of bad faith. The two claims were presented to the jury separately. The jury awarded Thomas $15,000 for the combine but found in Farm Bureau’s favor on the bad faith claim. We reverse because during the bad faith phase of the trial, the court refused to allow evidence that Farm Bureau violated the Arson…