Citing the alternative liability doctrine as the crux of its decision in a fire liability case, the Connecticut Supreme Court on Friday reversed a Superior Court ruling, which had found the plaintiffs had not determined which of three adults had caused a fire that destroyed a mill and sewer line.

Finding for the town of Somers and its insurer, the high court ruled the municipal government didn’t have to isolate the smoker whose cigarette had caused the fire among a group of negligent defendants. It accepted the town’s argument that the lower court had failed to apply a doctrine that allows a plaintiff to shift the burden of proof to multiple defendants, even though only one defendant might be liable.