MOBILE HOME LAWSUIT DISMISSED

The Arkansas Court of Appeals dismissed a lawsuit filed by Nationwide Mutu-al Fire Insurance Co. over payment of a claim after a mobile home caught fire in Beebe, Ark. The Associated Press reported that Nationwide claimed in its suit that Fleetwood Homes of Tennessee was responsible for the fire, which occurred Feb. 7, 2003.

In its decision, the Court of Appeals reportedly found that Nationwide could not prove its case. Nationwide’s fire investigator had determined the fire likely resulted from heat generated from a point where a staple used to hang siding in the mobile home pierced an electrical line. After paying the claim Nationwide sued Fleetwood, alleging products liability and negligence. However, Fleetwood argued and the Court agreed that the insurer failed to eliminate other possible ignition sources and Nationwide’s fire expert was not an electrical engineer or electrician.