|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Page 15 of 24 |
What is arson? |
 |
Arson was defined at common law as the malicious burning of the dwelling of another, while house burning was burning your own house and endangering the property of others. In most states, arson has been extended to include burning structures besides dwellings, burning your own property for illegal purposes, and damage caused by a fire or an explosion. Now if someone burns his/her home to collect the insurance, since the insurance is higher than the depressed real estate value, that would be arson. Other examples of arson would be to burn or bomb a place of worship in a hate crime, or burn a building in revenge for a refusal to sell it.
If a person burns down his own home as a form of cheap demolition and accidentally sets half the neighborhood on fire, that may or may not be arson, depending on the laws of the state.
(Reviewed 11.5.08)
|
| « View All General Questions Pages |
Next Page » |
|
« Post Your Case |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
State Law Center | Legal Links | Site Map | Privacy Policy | Media | About Us | Contact Us