[Bob Kontak]

Pal/family rents stand alone house with his family. Power strip failure identified by firefighters as cause of ignition.

Smallish fire. $8k damage to structure. Landlord's insurance cuts check to landlord. House is being fixed and house is still being lived in. No bad blood between pal and landlord.

LL insurance (claims department) requests the $8k from my pal.

No renters insurance. Guy ain't got squat except maybe $10k in a 401k and three beater cars worth maybe $5k. Couches, chairs, bed and a tool box.

Given the insurance company will rationally take steps to mitigate their loss, how big are their teeth given it was not negligence and the dude ain't got squat?