Gechijian v. Richmond Insurance

The policies of fire insurance upon which these actions are brought covered personal property in the plaintiff’s photographic studio. All of the policies are in the Massachusetts standard form; all are dated either December 3 or December 4, 1930; and all contain the following provision: “This policy shall be void ... if the insured shall make any attempt to defraud the Company either before or after the loss.”

On December 23, 1930, a destructive fire occurred in the studio. On January 7, 1931, the plaintiff “filed” with the companies’ adjusters an unsigned typewritten list entitled, “Fire Loss…