Legal analysis from Dean's Law Dictionary will be displayed here.

This section contains the nature of the case and procedural background.

The insured's, Mills, home was completely destroyed by fire. The insurer, Maryland Casualty (D), refused to cover the loss, claiming that the fire was intentionally set. First State Bank (P), the executor of Mills' estate, pursued this action after Mills' death. At trial, D was permitted to introduce a telephone conversation between a police dispatcher and an unknown male at Mills' house. Mills had bought a second home and was living there while he attempted to sell the first home, which was the one that caught fire. D called the police dispatcher as a witness: she testified that she had called Mills at his new residence at 1:00 a.m. to tell him about the fire. An unidentified person told her that Mills was not at home. P objected to the evidence, arguing that it was not properly authenticated. The trial court admitted the evidence. P appeals from a judgment in D's favor.

The legal issues presented in this case will be displayed here.

The court's holding and decision will be displayed here.