Fire-insurance fight leads to court

First, Kristopher and Sarah Brenenstuhl lost their home in Watervliet to a fire. Then they were called arsonists — without any criminal charges or direct proof — by their insurance company, which refused to pay their claim. Finally, they took the insurer, the Rhode Island-based Amica Mutual, to federal court. On Monday, as the case was about to go to trial before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christian Hummel, the Brenenstuhls and Amica Mutual agreed on a settlement that will pay the couple $350,000. The Brenenstuhls, whose suit initially requested $551,000, have been forced into bankruptcy. They were ready to move on.