Nebraska Court: Insurance Won’t Cover Fireworks Injury

A judge has ruled a Lincoln, Neb., man can’t get help from his insurance company to pay for injuries inflicted on an 80-year-old woman in a fireworks accident because it happened during a criminal act.

The Lincoln Journal Star reported a Lancaster County judge issued the ruling in the case of David Parr, who injured Ioma Sukstof in the face and broke her jaw when a pipe filled with gunpowder exploded in July 2009.

Sukstorf filed a lawsuit against Parr, seeking $338,000 in damages.

A judge ruled Parr’s insurance company, Farmers Mutual, didn’t have to pay damages because his policy excludes coverage for injury or damage caused by a criminal act.

Parr was convicted of third-degree assault for the incident.

A telephone listing for Parr was disconnected.