Wisconsin Man, Insurer Settle Over Wrongful Arson Conviction

A Friendship, Wis., man who spent almost three years in prison after being wrongfully convicted of arson has reached an undisclosed settlement with his insurance company.

Joseph Awe was convicted of burning down a bar he co-owned with his wife in 2006, after experts hired by Mt. Morris Mutual Insurance Co. of Coloma testified that electrical malfunction was not the cause. A fire marshal then declared the fire arson.

On appeal, experts for the defense said the fire was caused by a faulty electrical system. A judge agreed, saying the previous investigators used a now-discredited method to reach their conclusion.