Previous Story
Jurors begin deliberation in Garapan arson case
|
Posted on Feb 07 2012
By Ferdie de la Torre
Reporter
Reporter
Seven federal jurors began deliberations yesterday in the lawsuit filed by FirstNet Insurance Co. against the owner of a clothing store in Garapan that went up in flames in 2010.
The jurors started their deliberation in the morning. As of 4:30pm yesterday, U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona excused the jurors as they had not reached a verdict yet.
They are expected to continue their deliberations today, Tuesday.
FirstNet, through counsel Richard W. Pierce, is suing Zhen Rui Brother Corp., the owner of BL Clothing Store, for allegedly deliberately setting off the blaze so the corporation’s owner, Zheng Biao, could claim $414,718.53 in insurance proceeds.
Zhen Rui Brother Corp., through counsels Ramon Quichocho and Michael Dotts, is countersuing FirstNet for breach of contract for refusing to pay the insurance policy.
The fire broke out in the early morning hours of Oct. 30, 2010. Arson investigators determined that there was an explosion at the store.
A materialist scientist from Malaysia, who was hired by FirstNet to investigate the fire, concluded that the blaze was intentionally set off. The investigator found trails of fabric that had gasoline inside the store.
Biao denied burning down his store and said he does not know who set off the blaze.
