From: Stefano Toria <????????????????>
Subject: A Cigar Story

I got this from another mailing list. I have no idea if it is true or
not (despite the claims in the text itself) but it is simply too
hilarious to pass by. Enjoy, and have a Merry Christmas and a Peaceful
New (Smoking) Year!

-begin forwarded text-

A Charlotte, NC, lawyer purchased a box of very rare and expensive
cigars, then insured them against fire among other things. Within a
month, having smoked his entire stockpile of these great cigars and
without yet having made even his first premium payment on the policy,
the lawyer filed claim against the insurance company. In his claim,
the lawyer stated the cigars were lost "in a series of small fires."
The insurance company refused to pay, citing the obvious reason: that
the man had consumed the cigars in the normal fashion.

The lawyer sued...and won!

In delivering the ruling the judge agreed with the insurance company
that the claim was frivolous. The Judge stated nevertheless, that the
lawyer held a policy from the company in which it had warranted that
the cigars were insurable and also guaranteed that it would insure
them against fire, without defining what is considered to be
unacceptable fire, and was obligated to pay the claim. Rather than
endure lengthy and costly appeal process, the insurance company
accepted the ruling and paid $15,000 to the lawyer for his loss of the
rare cigars lost in the "fires."

NOW FOR THE BEST PART... After the lawyer cashed the check, the
insurance company had him arrested on 24 counts of ARSON!!!! With his
own insurance claim and testimony from the previous case being used
against him, the lawyer was convicted of intentionally burning his
insured property and was sentenced to 24 months in jail and a $24,000
fine.

This is a true story and was the 1st place winner in the recent
Criminal Lawyers Award Contest.

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Date: Thu, 5 Jun 2003 10:55:57 -0400