Ferrari 360 Spider Fire Leaves Man With Severe Burns and Sparks $20 Million Lawsuit
A Supercar Fantasy Goes Up In Flames
With iconic Ferrari models like the Enzo, F40, and 250 GTO, owning one remains a dream for many. That dream, however, turned into a nightmare for a Montreal man after he suffered second- and third-degree burns to more than 56% of his body when a Ferrari 360 Spider caught fire.
Before anything else, it's worth noting that this incident appears to be an isolated case – not a knock on the Ferrari 360, which is arguably one of the most beautiful Ferraris of the modern era. According to CTV News, the victim, Richard Papazian, alleges that Ferrari Quebec's "gross negligence, recklessness, and willful misconduct" led to his injuries. He has since filed a $20.8 million lawsuit against the dealership and other parties.
The Deal That Took A Dangerous Turn
The report stated that Papazian gave Ferrari Quebec a $20,000 deposit in July 2022 for the purchase of a Ferrari 296 GTS with the Assetto Fiorano package, a track-focused setup available for the brand's first plug-in hybrid V6 model. Instead, he was allegedly encouraged to buy the consigned 360 Spider, which belonged to multimillionaire Quebec entrepreneur Luc Poirier.
To try to lure Papazian, a salesman took him to the dealership's second floor in August 2024 to demonstrate the sound of the engine, which, if left stock, would be a 3.6-liter V8 capable of revving up to 8,500 rpm. That is high-performance territory. However, the car had trouble starting, and on the third or fourth attempt, Papazian said he was "engulfed in flames."
In his lawsuit, Papazian alleges that a master technician at the dealership removed the fuel rail and injectors a month before the incident. The legal complaint claims this was done "without taking any precaution to prevent anyone from starting the engine," making the Ferrari 360 a "dangerously compromised vehicle" that had become a "ticking time bomb."
Papazian said Ferrari Quebec did not reach out to him or his family for support, and did not return the $20,000 deposit.
The Red Tape After The Fire
The news outlet obtained an incident report from Montreal police (SPVM), but the document was heavily redacted. Papazian was also told to file a claim with Quebec's auto insurance board (SAAQ), though the agency does not automatically cover all automobile accidents, including certain incidents that happen inside a building.
While the case is still ongoing, Papazian continues to suffer from trauma, even experiencing sleep disturbances after seeing the sparklers on his birthday cake.
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This story was originally published May 3, 2026 at 6:30 AM.