http://www.snopes.com/crime/clever/cigarson.asp
"As to whether there could be any truth to the legend's premise, we note that insurance policies are generally written so that deliberate actions on the part of the policyholders cannot trigger payouts. Furthermore, destroying your own property isn't arson, as long as the act isn't intended to defraud anyone. If a court had already ruled that the insurance company was required to pay, then obviously no fraud was committed, and thus the burning could not be considered arson.
Read more at http://www.snopes.com/crime/clever/cigarson.asp#irL7Hf6Ypj0CKHg2.99
"As to whether there could be any truth to the legend's premise, we note that insurance policies are generally written so that deliberate actions on the part of the policyholders cannot trigger payouts. Furthermore, destroying your own property isn't arson, as long as the act isn't intended to defraud anyone. If a court had already ruled that the insurance company was required to pay, then obviously no fraud was committed, and thus the burning could not be considered arson.
Read more at http://www.snopes.com/crime/clever/cigarson.asp#irL7Hf6Ypj0CKHg2.99
