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Re: Fire at John Deere Warehouse in 02/01
Posted by:
Hunter B. (Terry) Lacy (IP Logged)
Date: May 18, 2007 10:04PM
I do not remember the names of all of the investigators and engineers and I no longer have access to the file. John Deere (on the Chubb policy) was represented by a former Cincinnati FD firefighter/investigator whose name slips me. Toscano was out there on the reinsurance policy. Alot of electrical engineers were out there because they were looking at the lighting fixtures. I think Finneran, Cline, and Echols were all there because I remember many joint evidence examinations had to be rescheduled. The fire cause was never established (to my knowledge) and was not an issue at trial. I do not think a fire investigator or electrical engineer testified as an expert witness. There may have been testimony on fire spread and sprinkler issues. This trial turned out to be a "document trial" because Factory Mutual made some written representations about the building before the fire and about two weeks after John Deere got the FM report, the building burned totally. There was a significant lack of water available for fire flow. I apologize for not having more information. I heard about the verdict and lucked out on finding the article.