What to do if we’re being sued for a house fire that was caused by our roommate?
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What to do if we’re being sued for a house fire that was caused by our roommate?
My husband and I are being sued by an insurer for a house fire that was caused by our roommate at the time. We are still renting the home and there was minimal damage to the garage. The value of the house is around 70k and they are suing us for 44k. There is no way that they paid that much for the repairs. What can we do?
Asked on April 23, 2012 under Real Estate Law, Florida
Answers:
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
Hopefully you had renter's insurance in place when the fire to your rental happened. If not, then there is a chance that you will be embroiled in litigation for the costs of repair. If the roommate caused the fire and not you and your spouse, you should consider filing a cross complaint against him or her with respect to the claims against you by the insurer under the subrogation claim.
Given the complexity of the lawsuit against you for the repair of the rental, I recommend that you consult with a real estate attorney to assist in defending you in the lawsuit. If you do not file a timely answer to the complaint against you, your defaults could be taken.
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