Haris Ashley
There is an urban legend about a cigar aficionado who purchased fire insurance for his cigars, smoked them, and then attempted to collect insurance money by claiming that the cigars had been destroyed by fire. This tale has been circulating on the internet since 1996 and in various forms since the 1960s. Interestingly, a similar story involving a lawyer who smoked cigars, claimed insurance money, and was subsequently arrested for arson has been claimed to be true but is likely a hoax. In this version of the story, the lawyer purchases a box of rare and expensive cigars, insures them against fire, and then files a claim stating that the cigars were lost in a series of small fires. The insurance company refuses, but the lawyer sues and wins, receiving $15,000. However, he is then arrested on 24 counts of arson and sentenced to 24 months in jail and a $24,000 fine.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Charlotte, North Carolina |
| Main Character | A lawyer |
| Object | A box of rare, expensive cigars |
| Insurance Policy | Insured against fire |
| Claim | Lost in a series of small fires |
| Claim Outcome | Denied by the insurance company |
| Lawsuit Outcome | Lawyer won, received $15,000 |
| Arrest | Charged with 24 counts of arson, sentenced to 24 months in jail and a $24,000 fine |
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What You'll Learn
A lawyer insures cigars against fire
There is a tale that has been circulating since the mid-1960s about a lawyer who purchased a box of rare and expensive cigars and insured them against fire. Within a month, the lawyer had smoked all the cigars and filed a claim against the insurance company, stating that the cigars had been lost "in a series of small fires".
The insurance company refused to pay, arguing that the cigars had been consumed in the normal way. The lawyer sued and, surprisingly, won the case. The judge ruled that the insurance company had provided the man with a policy protecting against fire and had failed to limit its liability by defining what would amount to an "unacceptable fire".
As a result, the insurance company was ordered to pay the lawyer $15,000 for his loss. However, the moment the lawyer cashed the cheque, the insurance company had him arrested and charged with 24 counts of arson—one for each cigar he had smoked. The lawyer was convicted of intentionally burning his insured property and sentenced to two years in jail and a $24,000 fine.
While this story has been shared as a true occurrence, it is believed to be a hoax or a tall tale. It is an example of a story with a particular structure: a person exploits a regulation for personal gain, only to be punished under an unforeseen aspect of that same regulation.
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He smokes them and claims insurance money
There is a tale that has been circulating online since 1996 about a cigar aficionado who took out an insurance policy on his cigars to protect them against fire. After smoking them, he filed a claim, stating that the cigars had been "consumed" by fire. The insurance company refused to pay, and the man sued. The judge ruled that the company had to pay the claim as they had agreed to insure against fire and had not specified the nature of the fire covered.
The story then takes a turn—after the man accepted the money, the insurance company had him arrested and charged with arson. This tale has been identified as a hoax or a joke, but it has persisted online for over two decades.
In this version of the story, the cigar smoker is a lawyer. He purchases a box of rare and expensive cigars and insures them against fire and other hazards, just as he would for his other valuables. Within a month, he finishes smoking all the cigars and files an insurance claim, stating that they were lost in a series of small fires. The insurance company refuses to pay, arguing that he had consumed the cigars in the normal way.
The lawyer sues the insurance company, and the judge rules in his favour. The judge agrees with the insurance company that the claim is frivolous, but also states that the company had warranted that the cigars were insurable and guaranteed to insure them against fire without defining what constitutes an unacceptable fire. As a result, the insurance company is obligated to pay the claim, and they give the lawyer $15,000 for his loss.
However, the story doesn't end there. As soon as the lawyer cashes the cheque, the insurance company has him arrested and charged with arson, or intentionally burning insured property. With his own insurance claim and testimony used against him, the lawyer is convicted and sentenced to two years in jail and a $24,000 fine.
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The insurance company refuses to pay
The insurance company initially refused to pay the lawyer, arguing that he had consumed the cigars in the normal way. They claimed that the lawyer's insurance claim was frivolous. However, the lawyer sued the insurance company and won the case.
The judge ruled in favour of the lawyer, stating that the insurance company had provided the lawyer with a policy that protected against fire without defining what would be considered unacceptable fire. The judge concluded that the insurance company was liable for the claim as per the wording of the policy.
Rather than undergoing a lengthy and costly appeal process, the insurance company accepted the ruling and paid the lawyer the claimed amount of $15,000 for the loss of his cigars. However, the story doesn't end there. As soon as the lawyer cashed the cheque, the insurance company had him arrested and charged with arson.
The lawyer was convicted of intentionally burning his insured property and was sentenced to jail time and a fine. This unexpected twist serves as a cautionary tale for individuals attempting similar schemes and underscores the importance of understanding the legal intricacies of insurance policies.
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The lawyer sues and wins
A lawyer purchased a box of rare and expensive cigars, then insured them against fire, among other hazards. After smoking all the cigars, he filed a claim against the insurance company, stating that they had been lost "in a series of small fires". The insurance company refused to pay, arguing that the cigars had been consumed in the normal way.
The lawyer sued the insurance company and won. The judge agreed with the insurance company that the claim was frivolous. Nevertheless, the judge stated that the lawyer held a policy from the company, in which it had warranted that the cigars were insurable and guaranteed that it would insure them against fire. The policy did not specify the nature of the fire covered or excluded. Therefore, the insurance company was ordered to pay the lawyer $15,000 for his loss.
However, as soon as the lawyer cashed the cheque, the insurance company had him arrested on 24 counts of arson. The lawyer was convicted of intentionally burning his insured property. His own insurance claim and testimony were used against him in court. He was sentenced to 24 months in jail and a $24,000 fine.
This story has been circulating online since 1996 and won first place in the Criminal Lawyers Award Contest. However, it has been claimed that the story is a hoax or a tall tale.
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The lawyer is arrested for arson
The story of a lawyer who smoked cigars and collected insurance money before being arrested for arson has been circulating online since 1996. While it has been shared as a "true story", it is believed to be a hoax or urban legend. Nonetheless, the story is quite detailed and entertaining.
In the story, a lawyer purchases a box of rare and expensive cigars and insures them against fire, among other hazards. Within a month, the lawyer smokes all the cigars and files a claim against the insurance company, stating that the cigars were lost "in a series of small fires". The insurance company refuses to pay, arguing that the cigars were consumed in the normal way. The lawyer sues the insurance company, and a judge rules in his favour, stating that the company is liable as they failed to define what would constitute an "unacceptable fire".
The insurance company, not wanting to incur the costs of an appeal, pays the lawyer $15,000. However, as soon as the lawyer cashes the cheque, the insurance company has him arrested on 24 counts of arson—one for each cigar. The lawyer is convicted of intentionally burning his insured property and is sentenced to 24 months in jail and a $24,000 fine.
It is important to note that, in reality, destroying your own property is not considered arson unless it is done with the intent to defraud. In this case, since the court ruled that the insurance company was required to pay, it had already been determined that no fraud was committed. Therefore, the burning of the cigars legally could not be considered arson. Nonetheless, the story is a creative and humorous tale that has captured the imagination of many.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, there is a story about a lawyer who smoked cigars and collected insurance money. However, it is just a legend or urban myth that has been circulating since the mid-1960s.
In the story, a lawyer bought a box of rare cigars and insured them against fire. After smoking the cigars, he filed a claim against the insurance company, stating that the cigars had been lost in a series of small fires.
Initially, the insurance company refused to pay, arguing that the cigars had been consumed in the normal way. However, the lawyer sued and won the case, as the judge ruled that the company had failed to define what would amount to an "unacceptable fire".
No, after the lawyer cashed the insurance money, the company had him arrested and charged with arson. He was convicted of intentionally burning insured property and sentenced to two years in prison and a fine.
The story is often shared because it is amusing and highlights an interesting loophole in insurance policies. It also serves as a reminder that insurance policies are legally binding contracts and that it is important to understand the legal terms and conditions.
