Owning a Ferrari is supposed to be the ultimate reward for car enthusiasts. It’s the kind of purchase that represents years of hard work finally paying off, not something that ends in a hospital bed, but for one Montreal man, that dream took a brutal and unexpected turn.
Instead of driving away in a supercar, he walked into a nightmare. What started as a dealership visit quickly escalated into a life-threatening incident that would change everything. Now, it has turned into a lawsuit worth more than $20 million.
The case centers around a fire involving a Ferrari 360 Spider at a dealership in Quebec. According to the victim, what happened was the result of serious negligence, not bad luck. The allegations are severe, and the consequences even more so.
Now, the fallout is playing out in court, raising serious questions about safety, responsibility, and what really happened inside that showroom.
A Routine Visit Turns Catastrophic
CTV News reports that Richard Papazian, a car enthusiast and father of two, originally had his sights set on a newer Ferrari. He had already placed a $20,000 deposit on a Ferrari 296 GTS back in 2022, but later returned to the dealership to explore other options.
During a visit in August 2024, a salesperson reportedly offered to show him a pre-owned Ferrari 360 Spider. The car belonged to a private owner and was being displayed at the dealership on consignment.
Papazian says he was standing next to the car while the salesperson attempted to start it. After several attempts, the situation escalated instantly, and he was suddenly engulfed in flames.
Severe Injuries And A Long Road To Recovery
The explosion left Papazian with devastating injuries. He suffered second- and third-degree burns covering more than 56 percent of his body, putting him in critical condition.
He was rushed to a specialized burn center and placed in a medically induced coma. Over the following weeks, he underwent multiple surgeries, including skin grafts, while also dealing with complications like kidney failure.
Recovery has been slow and difficult. Even now, Papazian says simple tasks, like driving, leave him exhausted, and the trauma from the incident still affects his daily life.
Lawsuit Alleges “Gross Negligence”
Papazian is now suing Ferrari Quebec and several other parties for $20.8 million. The lawsuit claims the incident was caused by “gross negligence, recklessness, and willful misconduct.”
According to the legal filing, critical fuel system components, including the fuel rail and injectors, had been removed from the Ferrari weeks before the incident. The claim alleges that no safeguards were put in place to prevent the engine from being started.
That effectively turned the car into what the lawsuit describes as a “dangerously compromised vehicle.” In simple terms, it was allegedly a ticking time bomb waiting for someone to turn the key.
Questions Around Responsibility
The owner of the Ferrari 360 Spider reportedly said he had no idea the car was being used for demonstrations. He also claimed the vehicle had been modified without proper safeguards in place.
Police reports described the fire as accidental, caused by a series of human actions. However, key details remain unclear, with large portions of the official report redacted.
So far, those named in the lawsuit have not publicly responded to the allegations, leaving many of the most important questions unanswered for now.
Not Just Physical Damage
Beyond the physical injuries, the emotional toll has been significant. Papazian says the experience continues to affect him in unexpected ways, including anxiety triggered by everyday situations.
Even something as simple as birthday candles or sparklers has become a reminder of what happened. That kind of trauma doesn’t disappear overnight, no matter how much time passes.
The lawsuit also claims that the dealership never reached out to offer support following the incident. Additionally, the original $20,000 deposit was allegedly never returned.
A Rare Case, But A Serious One
It’s important to note that incidents like this are extremely rare. The Ferrari 360 itself isn’t known for issues like this, and nothing suggests there’s an underlying problem with the model.
However, this case isn’t really about the car. It’s about what happens when safety protocols fail, especially in environments where high-performance machines are involved. As the legal battle unfolds, it could set a precedent for how dealerships handle modified vehicles and customer safety.