Engel v. Redwood County Farmers Mutual Insurance Co.

281 N.W.2d 331 (1979)

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Engel v. Redwood County Farmers Mutual Insurance Co.

Minnesota Supreme Court
281 N.W.2d 331 (1979)

  • Written by Sheryl McGrath, JD

Facts

Redwood County Farmers Mutual Insurance Co. (Redwood) (defendant) provided a fire insurance contract to a hog farmer named Engel (plaintiff). The contract covered all losses from fire, and part of the insured property was a barn. The barn was heated by an exterior furnace, and the furnace thermostat was set for 75 degrees. One day the thermostat malfunctioned, and the furnace heated the barn to 120 degrees. All but one of the sows in the barn died. Engel sought coverage for the loss of the sows. Redwood declined coverage on the basis of a principle of law known as the friendly-fire doctrine. The doctrine precludes coverage of a fire loss if the fire in question was intended to burn in a contained place, and the fire was always contained in the place that it was intended to burn. The insurance coverage dispute went to trial. The trial court granted judgment in favor of Engel. Redwood appealed.

Rule of Law

Issue

Holding and Reasoning (Kelly, J.)

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