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Witness says gas can found at fire scene
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Posted on Feb 01 2012
By Ferdie de la Torre
Reporter
Reporter
A firefighter testified yesterday that a container with gasoline was found at the scene of a fire that engulfed a clothing store in Garapan in 2010.
Firefighter Kevin C. Guerrero said that based on the positions of the mannequins and blown out glasses outside the building, it appeared there was an explosion at BL Clothing Store.
Guerrero was the fourth witness called to the stand yesterday by attorney Richard W. Pierce, counsel for FirstNet Insurance Co., in the ongoing jury trial in the U.S. District Court of FirstNet’s lawsuit against Zhen Rui Brother Corp.
Fire policy insurer FirstNet is suing Zhen Rui Brother Corp., owner of BL Clothing Store, for allegedly deliberately setting off the fire so that the owner could claim $404,718.53 in insurance proceeds.
Zhen Rui Brother Corp., through counsels Ramon Quichocho and Michael Dotts, filed a counterclaim against FirstNet, alleging breach of contract, breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, insurance bad faith, and unfair or deceptive business practices.
Guerrero testified that he was the shift supervisor at the Department of Public Safety’s Fire Division when the fire at BL Clothing Store happened in the early morning of Oct. 30, 2010.
Guerrero said they were able to put out the fire after a couple of hours.
He said one of the firefighters at the scene picked up a container inside the burned building and showed it to him. When the firefighter told him it was gasoline, he said he instructed the firefighter to put it back because it will be part of their investigation.
Pierce earlier stated in court papers that among the items collected by their arson investigator at the scene were a candle, white plastic cap, and remains from the samples (fire debris), which are all in Malaysia in custody of the investigator.
Attorneys Quichocho and Dotts are expected to cross-examine Guerrero when the trial resumes today, Wednesday, at 8:30am.
