Kentucky Jury Awards $156,400 in Property Damage Fire
One driver started a fire to clear brush near a lake. The fire spread to a neighboring home, causing significant damage. The homeowners sued the driver, alleging negligence in starting and attending the fire. A jury found in favor of the homeowners and awarded damages.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
About Back Strain / Soft Tissue Injuries
Back strain and soft tissue injuries are among the most common injuries sustained in car accidents. These injuries affect muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the back, often resulting from the sudden impact forces experienced during a collision.
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $156,400
- County
- Dallas County, KY
- Resolved
- 2025
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Back Strain / Soft Tissue
- Accident Type
- Other
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Accident
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $156,400 is above the median of $15,000 for back strain / soft tissue cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $5,873 to $40,000, based on 890 cases in our database.
Case Overview
A contractor was hired to clear brush near Lake Cumberland in Bronston, Kentucky, for a new home construction project. In November 2022, the defendant initiated two fires to dispose of cleared vegetation, despite a statewide burn ban and a requirement that fires be attended until extinguished. The second fire, set on November 19, 2022, spread to an adjoining residential property, destroying the plaintiffs' lake house, garage, retaining wall, stairs, and boat dock. After the plaintiffs' insurer covered the rebuilding of the residence and pursued a subrogation claim, the plaintiffs filed a lawsuit against the contractor, seeking damages for remaining uninsured property losses, debris removal, loss of use, and emotional distress.
The plaintiffs alleged the defendant negligently set the fire in violation of the burn ban and failed to attend it, directly causing their property loss. They sought over $200,000 for uninsured property damage and debris removal, $180,000 for loss of use of their home, and additional amounts for aggravation and punitive damages. The defendant disputed fault, claiming approval from fire officials for the burn operation, and also argued that the plaintiffs failed to mitigate their damages. A bad faith claim against the defendant's insurer was bifurcated pending the outcome of the trial.
The case proceeded to a two-day trial. The jury found in favor of the plaintiffs, determining that the defendant failed to exercise ordinary care by burning during a burn ban and/or leaving the fire unattended. The jury awarded the plaintiffs $141,600 for specific property damages, excluding an award for the boat dock. An additional $15,000 was awarded for aggravation damages, but no damages were awarded for loss of use of the home or punitive damages.
The total verdict for the plaintiffs amounted to $156,400. A final judgment was entered for $99,920, which reflected an agreed offset of $56,480 for sums already paid by the plaintiffs' insurer, along with an additional $11,820 in prejudgment interest.
Understanding This Case
- The majority of soft tissue injuries resolve within 6-12 weeks with proper treatment. However, approximately 10-20% of cases may develop into chronic conditions requiring ongoing care.
- This case went to trial and resulted in a jury verdict. Verdicts can yield higher awards but carry the risk of receiving nothing if the jury rules against the plaintiff.
- This case was resolved in Dallas County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 2025, this case reflects the legal and economic conditions of that period, including medical costs, insurance practices, and jury award trends at the time.
VerdictlyTM Score
This outcome differs from typical similar cases
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