Joke:ACigarsandInsurance

　　ACharlotte,NC,manhavingpurchasedacaseofveryrare,veryexpensivecigarsinsuredthemagainstfireamongotherthings.Withinamonth,havingsmokedhisentirestockpileofcigarsandwithouthavingmadeevenhisfirstpremiumpaymentonthepolicy,themanfiledaclaimagainsttheinsurancecompany.Inhisclaim,themanstatedthecigarswerelost"inaseriesofsmallfires".

　　Theinsurancecompanyrefusedtopay,citingtheobviousreasonthatthemanhadconsumedthecigarsinthenormalfashion.Themansued.andwon.Indeliveringtherulingthejudgeagreeingthattheclaimwasfrivolous,statedneverthelessthatthemanheldapolicyfromthecompanyinwhichithadwarrantedthatthecigarswereinsurableandalsoguaranteedthatitwouldinsureagainstfire,withoutdefiningwhatitconsideredtobe"unacceptablefire",andwasobligatedtopaytheclaim.

　　Ratherthanendurealengthyandcostlyappealprocesstheinsurancecompanyacceptedtherulingandpaidtheman$15,000fortherarecigarshelostin"thefires".

　　Afterthemancashedthecheck,however,thecompanyhadhimarrestedon24countsofarson.Withhisowninsuranceclaimandtestimonyfromthepreviouscasebeingusedagainsthim,themanwasconvictedofintentionallyburninghisinsuredpropertyandsentencedto24monthsinjailanda$24,000fine.