Only in America...

Can't imagine this is true, but it sure is fun reading! (one of the many sources: http://www.invested.com.au/15/only-america-696/)

"Only in America

A man from Charlotte, North Carolina, having purchased a case of very expensive cigars, insured them against, among other things, fire. Within a month, having smoked his entire stockpile, the man filed a claim against the insurance company, stating that the cigars were lost 'in a series of small fires'.

The insurance company refused to pay, citing the obvious reason that the man had consumed the cigars in the normal fashion. The man sued – and won.

In delivering the ruling the judge, agreeing that the claim was frivolous, stated nevertheless that the man held a policy from the company in which it had warranted that the cigars were insurable and also guaranteed that it would insure against fire, without defining what it considered to be 'unacceptable fire', and was obliged to pay the claim. Rather than endure a lengthy and costly appeal the insurance company accepted the ruling and paid the man $15,000 for the rare cigars he had lost 'in the fires'.

After he cashed the cheque, however, the company had him arrested on 24 counts of arson. With his own insurance claim and testimony from the previous case being used against him, the man was convicted of intentionally burning his insured property and sentenced to 24 months in jail and a $24,000 fine.

[From 'Global Village', a weekly posting from cyberspace]"

or perhaps only post internet would this hoary standup joke continue to have legs (I first heard it on mid to late 60's talk show stand up by an otherwise unremembered performer . . . internet halloween: where dead things come back to life)

http://www.snopes.com/crime/clever/cigarson.asp

A good twist of fate!!! Worth of a Sherlock Holmes story.....

Here's a NYC legend for you - Back in the 90's when Clinton was President / cash was king / Wall Street was booming on steroids - On a summers evening, a limousine pulled up to the famous "21" Club on East 52nd Street in New york City, and a well dressed executive stepped out onto the street and into the restaurant for a few hours of exclusive dining. Shortly after, a young couple approached the limousine and offered the driver $50.00 to take them to their hotel. It was their first trip to NYC, and a ride in a limo would be so exciting - something they couldn't afford for the entire evening. The driver hesitated, then got out of the car, opened the rear door and whisked them inside, driving fast to their hotel and back so to earn the quick cash without being discovered gone by his main passenger. As expected, several hours later, the executive came out of the "21" Club, called for the car. The doorman opened the car door with a flourish and to everyones surprise, as the executive entered the limousine, he cried out, "Where is my briefcase I left here with my $500,000.00 worth of diamonds? The driver was called in by the police. The young couple were soon found. Without evidence they were let go. The diamonds could not be found. The executive sued the limousine company and won. Years later, a dogged investigator determined the classy executive and the young couple were all in the same game working together. The briefcase of diamonds never existed at all. But by that time all parties, along with the 500,000.00, had vanished into thin air.

Occasionally, whenever the mood strikes, I'll take the email chain letter (usually from that family member that 'just' got an email address) subject and check it against this site. Then I'll email them back with the results, noting the date of origination and/or other discrepancies.

Drastically cut down on most of that mess after a short while...

Ah, here it is: http://www.snopes.com/crime/clever/cigarson.asp

Take it at face value.