Court Upholds $2.75M Damage Award Against Businessman in Missouri Arson Lawsuit
A Missouri appeals court has ruled a Columbia businessman is liable for a $2.75 million civil judgment awarded to a woman whose home was destroyed in an alleged arson.
The Missouri Court of Appeals Western District affirmed a lower court ruling that Mehrdad Fotoohighiam was liable for damages after a fire destroyed Marcia Green’s home in Columbia in December 2014.
The Columbia Daily Tribune reports Fotoohighiam, the president of Electenergy Technologies in Columbia, was acquitted of arson in August. He is scheduled for trial in December on charges of conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder.
Electenergy Technologies’ offices were next to the trailer park where Green lived. Authorities allege Fotoohighiam paid someone to set the fire because he was feuding with Green over attempts to buy her land.
- One of Highest Property Claims Severity Recorded in Q3 on Low Volume, Says Verisk
- Florida Jury Returns $779M Verdict for Family of Security Guard Killed at Gambling Cafe
- Zillow Deleting Home Climate Risk Scores Reveals Limits of Flood, Fire Data
- Chubb, The Hartford, Liberty and Travelers Team Up on Surety Tech Launch