Opinion ID: 1676660
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Suspicious Origin of the Fire

Text: Lastly, Farm Bureau contends that the evidence supports a finding that the Footes intentionally set fire to the property. While we agree that the evidence indisputably showed that the fire had suspicious origins, we affirm the jury's verdict. During the trial, testimony was presented from several expert witnesses showing that the fire started in the area of the kitchen and utility room, near the entrance to the garage. The presence of accelerants was detected in the living room floor and near the kitchen door. No accidental cause for the fire was discovered, and it was the conclusion of Farm Bureau's fire investigation experts that the fire was intentionally set. No direct proof, however, was offered by Farm Bureau connecting the Footes to the suspicious cause of the fire. Although it attempted to show that only the Footes had the opportunity to commit the fire, based on their admissions that the home was locked and no one else had keys, Farm Bureau's fire specialist, Rodger Smith, conceded that someone else could have broken into the home and started the fire. He stated that a break in could have been possible, as the back door was completely missing from the home. Perhaps more significant is the fact that Farm Bureau presented no convincing evidence demonstrating a motive for the fire. Although Smith opined that the motive of financial gain was usually present in fires of this nature, Farm Bureau produced no specific evidence that such was the case here. Smith merely surmised that the financial gain was derived from the Footes having their mortgage paid in full and thus owning the house free and clear. Smith's theory was not supported by the evidence, however, which demonstrated that the Footes suffered a tremendous loss as a result of the fire. Gaylon testified that everything that they had worked for over the course of many years was gone. Tammy testified about the personal items destroyed that were of sentimental value to them, such as a collection of the children's school photographs, a painting done by a family friend that had been given to them as a wedding present, Tammy's angel collection, and approximately twenty sound tracks for music that Tammy performed at church. Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the Footes, as we are required to do, we conclude that the jury's verdict on this point is supported by substantial evidence.