Insurer, Klines reach apparent settlement in arson fire

American Family Insurance Co. and developer John Kline have reached a settlement in a court case in which the insurer accused Kline and his wife, Michelle, of playing a part in a fire that destroyed their million-dollar Urbandale home in February 2009. U.S. District Court Magistrate Ross Walters said in an order filed today that David May, an attorney representing American Family, informed his office Tuesday that a settlement had been reached. No other information about the settlement was available. Walters said in the filing that if closing documents are not filed by Dec. 29, the court could dismiss the case without further action. Fire investigators have determined that the fire was intentionally set, but no charges have been filed to date. In the civil lawsuit, the court previously had determined that John Kline had no insurance claims against the company, as they had been signed away in a sheriff’s sale and later transferred to American Family. 

 

American Family Insurance Co. and developer John Kline have reached a settlement in a court case in which the insurer accused Kline and his wife, Michelle, of playing a part in a fire that destroyed their million-dollar Urbandale home in February 2009. U.S. District Court Magistrate Ross Walters said in an order filed today that David May, an attorney representing American Family, informed his office Tuesday that a settlement had been reached. No other information about the settlement was available. Walters said in the filing that if closing documents are not filed by Dec. 29, the court could dismiss the case without further action. Fire investigators have determined that the fire was intentionally set, but no charges have been filed to date. In the civil lawsuit, the court previously had determined that John Kline had no insurance claims against the company, as they had been signed away in a sheriff’s sale and later transferred to American Family.