Suing Bacardi

[nelson]

Florida Woman Sues Bacardi Over Injuries Allegedly Caused by Flaming Rum Shot
http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,205645,00.html
Wednesday, July 26, 2006

MIAMI — A woman who was allegedly severely burned by flaming rum during a Bacardi promotion sued the wine and spirits producer, claiming the product was defective and dangerous.

Danielle Alleyne, of Miami, suffered horrific burns after she was hit by the flaming rum at a Miami night club in August 2002, according to the lawsuit filed Monday in Miami-Dade County Circuit Court.

"The burning rum stuck to her skin and continued to burn as she fell to the floor and tried to put herself out," the lawsuit said.

Alleyne suffered second and third degree burns on her face, neck, chest and back and is permanently disabled and disfigured, the lawsuit said.

After hours telephone messages left at the Miami-based Bacardi USA, Inc., were not immediately returned.

A bartender, who was not identified in the lawsuit, was pouring shots when a customer lit a menu on fire and placed it in the stream of alcohol. A bottle of Bacardi 151 that was being used to pour the shots turned into a flame thrower and sent flaming rum all over Alleyne, the lawsuit said.

A telephone message left after hours at the office of Robert Dickman, Alleyne's attorney, was not immediately returned.

The lawsuit alleges that Bacardi 151 proof rum "emits a high volume of combustible and explosive vapor" which makes it "unreasonably dangerous" and a "defective product."


Associated Press

["shazbat"]

Why wasn't the "customer" who lit the fire not arrested for starting a fire in a public place? Place the blame where it's do and make the idiot responsible for his actions.

[Freethinker]

Because Bacardi has the deep pockets. It's America. It doesn't have to be right, it just has to pay off!!!!

[The_Man]

Frivolous lawsuits and ambulance chasing class action attorneys are a real big problem in the US. The English have a system in place in which someone bringing a frivolous lawsuit and looses has to bear the cost of legal fees incurred by the defendant. Sounds like a reasonable way to deter this type of abuse, the only problem being those with the money can outspend and keep things tied up and the little man has no chance. I love the rule of law but find much in the way it is interpreted by some liberal judges to be disturbing. This case looks like they are going after the wrong party IMHO.

[Teiwaz]

After hours telephone messages left at the Miami-based Bacardi USA, Inc., were not immediately returned.

A telephone message left after hours at the office of Robert Dickman, Alleyne's attorney, was not immediately returned.

THAT"S BECAUSE IT WAS AFTER HOURS AND THEY WERE CLOSED YOU GENUIUS!!!

I can picture it. Smart arse reporter wants people to appear evasive or just hasn't got the brains to work out proper questions to ask, and has an idea - rings at 10pm, leaves message, waits 1 minute. Finishes article and sents it off to his editor., content that his integrity as a journo is protected because he said "immediately returned" and disclosed that it was an after hours message.