Boekamp

I.

FACTUAL BACKGROUND

Herbert Boekamp bought a new Chevrolet Corvette from an authorized GM dealer

in September 2005. Over the next several years, Herbert took the Corvette back to the

dealer on multiple occasions with complaints that the radio emitted a high-pitched sound

and maintenance indicator lights went on for no reason. The dealer was unable to

identify the cause of these problems or to correct them. Herbert also had routine

maintenance regularly performed on the Corvette, and had its rear bumper repaired after a

low-impact collision.

One evening in January 2010, Patti drove the Corvette home and parked it in the

garage of the Boekamps' residence. A few hours later, a fire started in the garage and

eventually destroyed the Boekamps' house and all its contents.

For brevity, we refer to members of the Boekamp family by their first names. In so doing, we intend no undue familiarity or disrespect. 2 Several people investigated and reported on the fire. Responding firefighters

prepared a report that stated the fire started in one of the vehicles parked in the garage.

Investigators hired by the Boekamps' homeowners' and automobile…