Fire/Arson Investigations : Fire/Arson Investigations
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Re: Presumption of Inncemce
Posted by: Chris Bloom, CJBFireConsultant (IP Logged)
Date: August 13, 2008 02:05PM
Mark:
It is not uncommon and in fact I have recorded voicemail messages from insurance adjusters assigning a C&O to do an Arson Investigation involving an insured with a bunch of red flags. I refuse these assignments from the standpoint that I remind my clients that they assign an independent C&O to conduct an investigation into the fire and determine independently what happened. Yes I agree wholeheartedly that it is important to know some of the background during the investigation. However, I ask my clients that since they are hiring an independent investigator, that they should try not to bias the investigation from the outset by claiming an Arson until the C&O has been independently verified.
Many times it has been found that the person may have a bunch of black flags, but the fire was truly an accident or the result of a confirmed product failure. Bad people have accidents too. Conversely, if a fire is conclusively proven to be Arson a reasonable degree of scientific certainty, then slam the door and throw away the key.
It is not uncommon and in fact I have recorded voicemail messages from insurance adjusters assigning a C&O to do an Arson Investigation involving an insured with a bunch of red flags. I refuse these assignments from the standpoint that I remind my clients that they assign an independent C&O to conduct an investigation into the fire and determine independently what happened. Yes I agree wholeheartedly that it is important to know some of the background during the investigation. However, I ask my clients that since they are hiring an independent investigator, that they should try not to bias the investigation from the outset by claiming an Arson until the C&O has been independently verified.
Many times it has been found that the person may have a bunch of black flags, but the fire was truly an accident or the result of a confirmed product failure. Bad people have accidents too. Conversely, if a fire is conclusively proven to be Arson a reasonable degree of scientific certainty, then slam the door and throw away the key.
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