Quebec businessman Richard Papazian is suing Ferrari Quebec for more than $20 million after being severely burned in a car explosion [1], [2].

The lawsuit highlights potential safety and maintenance failures at a high-end dealership, raising questions about the handling of classic luxury vehicles.

The legal action follows an incident at the Ferrari Quebec dealership in Montreal, where a classic Ferrari 360 exploded [1], [2]. Papazian said the explosion was the result of negligence by the dealership staff [1], [2]. The blast caused the plaintiff to suffer severe burns, leading to the current civil litigation [1], [2].

According to court documents cited by Driving.ca, Papazian is seeking $20.8 million in damages [2]. Other reports from CTV News said the amount is more than $20 million [1]. The discrepancy reflects the specific total of the claim versus a rounded figure.

This case centers on the responsibility of specialized dealerships to ensure the safety of vehicles during service and inspection. The plaintiff said the dealership failed to prevent a catastrophic failure of the vehicle's systems, a failure that resulted in life-altering injuries [1], [2].

Ferrari Quebec has not yet issued a public statement regarding the specific allegations of negligence. The proceedings will determine if the dealership's protocols for handling high-performance engines were sufficient to prevent the accident [1], [2].

“Richard Papazian is suing Ferrari Quebec for more than $20 million”

This litigation underscores the high liability risks associated with the maintenance of classic high-performance vehicles. Because these cars often utilize volatile fuel and pressurized systems, a finding of negligence could force luxury dealerships to implement more stringent safety protocols for vintage models to avoid massive payouts.