Now be kind folks, even if you have heard this one don't tell me, 'cause it took a hell of a typing session.
A Charlotte, NC lawyer purshased a box of very rare and expensive cigars, then insured them againt fire, among other things. Within a month, having smoked the entire box of these great cigars and without having paid the first installment of his insurance policy, he claimed against the insurance company stating that the cigars had been lost in a series of small fires. The insurance company refused to pay citing the obvious reasons that the lawyer had consumed the cigars in the normal and expected fashion.
The lawyer sued, and won. In deleivering his ruling the judge said that he agreed with the insurance company that the claim was frivilous, however the insurance company did not stipulate in which manner fire might be precluded fomo the policy. Rather than appealing, the insurance company paid over $15,000 on the claim.
After the lawyer cashed the cheque, the insurance company had him arrested on 24 counts of arson, with his onw insurance company's claim testomony used against him. The lawyer was convicted and sentenced to 24 months in jail and had a $24,000 fine imposed.
This is claimed to be a true story and was awarded the first place in the recent Criminal Lawyers Award contest.
Peter
