Insurer suing man who admitted torching Swampscott home

Aug. 5--SWAMPSCOTT -- A man now serving a four-to-five year state prison term for burning down his Swampscott home three years ago is now facing a lawsuit from his former insurance company.

Timothy Brosnan, 60, pleaded guilty last year to turning on natural gas jets and pouring gasoline around his $800,000 home at 11 Linden Ave., then setting it on fire back on the afternoon of July 30, 2016.

Prosecutors had alleged that Brosnan, facing a Probate and Family Court order to vacate the home so that his then-estranged wife and kids could move back in the following day, decided to burn it down instead.

Citation Insurance of Webster paid out a claim on the heavily damaged home, with part of the money going to Brosnan's now-ex wife and the rest to the bank that held the mortgage.

Now, Citation is suing Brosnan for the money it paid out to his ex and the bank.

The suit, filed last week in Salem Superior Court, seeks damages for negligence, gross negligence, breach of contract and interference in contractual relations.

Brosnan, who is serving his sentence at MCI Shirley, could not be reached for comment.

The home was sold last year to a development firm for $300,000, according to Registry of Deeds records.

Lawsuits on behalf of insurance companies seeking to recoup payouts in cases of arson are not unusual, but it's less common to have a case in which a defendant has already pleaded guilty to causing a fire.

Courts reporter Julie Manganis can be reached at 978-338-2521, by email at jmanganis@salemnews.com or on Twitter at @SNJulieManganis.

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