Opinion ID: 1743425
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Was a lighter involved?

Text: BIC argues that the evidence concerning the instrumentality that caused the fire was extremely confusing. Cassandra Formby, Cunningham's next-door neighbor, was the first person to view the scene after the fire. She said she saw a burned box of matches, aerosol cans, [2] and lighters in Cunningham's bedroom. Cunningham testified that she had no idea how the fire started, although she had told the medical team at the hospital that the fire was caused by matches. Franklin Williams, Cunningham's brother, was living with her at the time of the fire. He testified that he had no idea what had caused the fire but that he was told by Cunningham or Mrs. Williams that the fire was caused by an exploding aerosol can. Franklin Williams also said that, on the day of the fire, he had left a lighter on the dresser in Cunningham's bedroom. Dontavious's deposition was read at the trial; when asked in his deposition how the fire had started, Dontavious replied, I had a cigarette lighter. Then, when asked what he was doing with the lighter, he stated, I was lighting the curtains. Dontavious, who was three years old at the time of the fire, was not asked about use of an aerosol can at the time of the fire. We conclude that the record, while it is in conflict regarding the presence of a lighter, was sufficient to justify the trial court's rejection of BIC's argument that it was entitled to a directed verdict on the ground that the evidence was insufficient for the factfinder to determine that a lighter had caused the fire.