It's a little old, but I like it.
Gas Station Sued For Selling Flammable Liquids
-2/10/2005-
A Florida woman has filed suit against numerous defendants over the fiery death of her husband. Marcy Bates contends that negligent actions by several entities caused his death, including the gas station that sold the gasoline he used to self immolate in late July 2002.
Gerard Bates died at Sander Memorial Hospital in August 2002 after sustaining burns to over 90% of his body. Witnesses describe a scene where domestic arguments ended with Bates running into the street and covering himself in gasoline, shouting obscenities at his family before igniting a cigarette lighter and erupting in a fireball.
Neighbours who were close by could not reach Mr Bates for flames that reached 20 feet into the air. Helen McManus, also a defendant in the action by Mrs Bates, was the closest to Bates at the time.
"I was stunned, there was nothing I could do. I had parked and was waiting for the commotion to die down before getting out of the car, and then this tremendous heat hit me. Gerard had no chance - he was just covered in fire".
Mrs Bates described McManus' inaction as appalling, and has filed a wrongful death claim against her. "She did nothing. Absolutely nothing".
Also named in the claim are two neighbours, paramedics who attended to Mr Bates at the scene, and two surgeons who treated Mr Bates in the weeks following.
Mrs Bates describes her husband as a loving man who was always joking around, and would never cause himself or his family intentional harm.
"We all had to get used to his practical jokes" she says. "I know he didn't know what gasoline could do when it's lit. Not to people".
In the filing against the Sanderville gas station that sold the gasoline, Mrs Bates claims none of the warnings about the flammability of gasoline indicated to her husband that it was any danger. She contends that warning signs placed around the gas station give the false impression that it is only dangerous on the premises
"If people knew the dangers involved do you think they'd use gasoline? Where are the warning labels on every car out there, on every cigarette lighter, on every vehicle?".
Mrs Bates is seeking $25 million in damages
-2/10/2005-
A Florida woman has filed suit against numerous defendants over the fiery death of her husband. Marcy Bates contends that negligent actions by several entities caused his death, including the gas station that sold the gasoline he used to self immolate in late July 2002.
Gerard Bates died at Sander Memorial Hospital in August 2002 after sustaining burns to over 90% of his body. Witnesses describe a scene where domestic arguments ended with Bates running into the street and covering himself in gasoline, shouting obscenities at his family before igniting a cigarette lighter and erupting in a fireball.
Neighbours who were close by could not reach Mr Bates for flames that reached 20 feet into the air. Helen McManus, also a defendant in the action by Mrs Bates, was the closest to Bates at the time.
"I was stunned, there was nothing I could do. I had parked and was waiting for the commotion to die down before getting out of the car, and then this tremendous heat hit me. Gerard had no chance - he was just covered in fire".
Mrs Bates described McManus' inaction as appalling, and has filed a wrongful death claim against her. "She did nothing. Absolutely nothing".
Also named in the claim are two neighbours, paramedics who attended to Mr Bates at the scene, and two surgeons who treated Mr Bates in the weeks following.
Mrs Bates describes her husband as a loving man who was always joking around, and would never cause himself or his family intentional harm.
"We all had to get used to his practical jokes" she says. "I know he didn't know what gasoline could do when it's lit. Not to people".
In the filing against the Sanderville gas station that sold the gasoline, Mrs Bates claims none of the warnings about the flammability of gasoline indicated to her husband that it was any danger. She contends that warning signs placed around the gas station give the false impression that it is only dangerous on the premises
"If people knew the dangers involved do you think they'd use gasoline? Where are the warning labels on every car out there, on every cigarette lighter, on every vehicle?".
Mrs Bates is seeking $25 million in damages