Opinion ID: 218972
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Resolute's Liability to Oswalt

Text: Resolute disputes its liability for breach of the implied warranty of workmanlike performance, arguing that, because there was no affirmative admissible proof of a causal link between Albrecht's actions and the fire, the district court clearly erred by finding that Albrecht caused the fire. We reject this argument, however, because there was ample circumstantial evidence to support the causation finding. Albrecht himself admitted that many boats are miswired, perhaps explaining why flipping the breaker did not actually cut the power to the heater. Moreover, the parties agree that the burner unit was the source of the fire and that it could have ignited only if there was power flowing to the heater. This circumstantial evidence supports the district court's finding that Albrecht's failure to disconnect the power allowed electricity to flow to the heater, causing the unattended burner unit to ignite. See United States v. Standard Oil Co. of Cal., 495 F.2d 911, 916 (9th Cir.1974) (affirming a finding that a boat caused an oil fire based on substantial circumstantial evidence).