Arson Claims

1) Introduction
2) Learning Objectives
3) Analytical Outlines
a) What is an analytical outline?
b) Why should you use an analytical outline?
c) Structure of the analytical outline
4) Typical coverage issues
a) Intentional acts
b) Concealment and Fraud
5) Typical intentional acts conditions
a) CIC §533
b) ISO HO 00 03 10 00
c) Intentional Acts
6) Structure of an intentional acts analytical outline
a) Incendiarism
b) The Connective Evidence
7) Recap

1) More detailed intentional acts analytical outline –
Incendiarism
a) Fire department
b) Private Origin & Cause/Peer review
c) Hydrocarbon detecting canine
d) Forensic laboratory results
e) Other experts
f) Burn injuries
g) Witnesses
2) Investigative Plans
a) What is an investigative plan?
b) Why should you use an investigative plan?
3) Scene security
4) Retain appropriate experts
5) Scene documentation
a) Photos
b) Data collection
c) Diagrams
6) Recap

1) Scene documentation (continued)
a) Diagrams (continued)
b) Video
c) Physical evidence
2) Evidence Collection/Preservation/Testing
3) Early Recorded Statements
a) From all insureds
b) From known witnesses
4) Burn injuries
5) Interacting with public agencies without getting burned
a) First on scene observations
b) Changes to the scene
c) Witness statements
d) Covenant of good faith and fair dealing
6) Arson/Fraud Reporting
7) Recap

1) Interacting with public agencies without getting burned
a) Impact of a criminal
investigation/prosecution/conviction/acquittal on your investigation
b) Threat from a public official
c) Significance/role of the public agency conclusion re the
cause of the fire
d) Four potential causes of a fire under NFPA 921
2) Your independent O&C expert(s)
a) Objective, thorough, and reliable
b) Objective validation of hypothesis
c) Specific documentation
d) Credible consideration and elimination of alternative
theories
3) Use and importance of other O&C-related experts
4) Other forensic services
5) Importance of retaining appropriate experts early on
6) Can you prove this fire was intentionally set?
a) Dramatic, impactful photo sequences
b) Photo matches
c) Data gathering
7) Recap

1) Introduction
2) Access
3) Opportunity
4) Motive/Anti-motive/Motive of others
a) Potential well-recognized motives
b) Financial motive
c) Motive of others
5) Conduct consistent/inconsistent with guilt
a) Delays and evasions
b) Misrepresentations
6) Credibility and the “provable lie”
7) The Concealment or Fraud Condition
8) Recap

1) Timely Reservation of Rights letter
2) Witness statements
3) Examinations Under Oath
4) Sources of information
5) Details are critically important
6) The mortgagee and their rights
7) Innocent co-insured
8) The “Good Faith” mindset
a) The Duty of Good Faith and Fair Dealing
b) Common “Bad Faith” Themes
c) Common “Good Faith” Themes
9) How it plays out later
10) Lessons learned
11) Recap