VONORE, Tenn. (AP) -- The company that insured a lesbian couple's home claims the women set a fire that destroyed it.

Carole Ann Stutte and Jean Stutte filed a lawsuit in February, claiming a former neighbor was responsible for the September 2010 fire.

A federal lawsuit was filed May 13 against the Stuttes by the American National Property and Casualty Company, claiming the couple started the fire that consumed their own home, according to The Associated Press.

The Monroe County Sheriff's Office has not filed any criminal charges in relation to the fire.

The attorney representing the Stuttes in their lawsuit against former neighbor Janice Millsaps says the couple have 20 days from when the lawsuit was filed to respond.

The insurance company has denied the Stuttes' damage claim.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)