A Montreal man who suffered severe burns and life-threatening injuries as the result of an explosion at Ferrari Quebec is suing the luxury dealership and several other parties for $20.8 million, alleging the incident was caused by “gross negligence, recklessness and willful misconduct.”
In an exclusive interview with CTV News, Richard Papazian said he has only recently started to drive again – and getting behind the wheel now leaves him exhausted.
“It just tires me out very, very quickly. It was a passion of mine, I loved driving, I loved cars. It was a dream to buy a Ferrari, and it turned out to be a nightmare,” said Papazian.
According to court documents obtained by CTV News, the car that exploded at the dealership was a consigned Ferrari 360 that belonged to Luc Poirier, a multimillionaire Quebec entrepreneur with an extensive collection of Italian cars.
The dealership belongs to Gad Bitton, a wealthy businessman, philanthropist and president of the Holand Automotive Group.
Avid car enthusiast
An avid car enthusiast, Papazian had given Ferrari Quebec a $20,000 deposit for the purchase of a Ferrari 296 GTS Fiorano in July 2022.
As time progressed, Papazian said he decided he wanted to consider other options.
Papazian went to the Ferrari Quebec dealership located on Jean-Talon Street West on Aug. 7, 2024.
He said his sales representative, Jean-Daniel Bienvenue, named in the lawsuit, offered to show him other cars, including pre-owned Ferraris and a Mercedes Black series.
Bienvenue invited Papazian to the second floor of the dealership to show him a 2004 Ferrari 360 belonging to Poirier.
According to the statement of claim, “Bienvenue was eager to present it to Richard and, consistently with customary practices for high-performance sports cars, Bienvenue wanted to demonstrate the sound of its engine.”
“I was on the passenger side of the vehicle and I was standing waiting to hear the sound of the car. He attempted to start the car several times. And on the third or fourth attempt, the next thing I know, I was engulfed in flames,” said Papazian.
Life-threatening injuries
Papazian, a husband and father of two, was rushed to the Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM) burn centre in critical condition, where he was placed in a medically-induced coma.
He suffered from second- and third-degree burns to more than 56 per cent of his body.
He underwent several failed skin grafts, multiple surgeries and required dialysis because of deteriorating kidney function.
Papazian’s wife took an indefinite leave of absence from work to care for him.
He emerged from his coma about four weeks after the explosion.
“I was on heavy medication also during that time. It was a very, very difficult time, but I tried to look positive for my family,” Papazian said, fighting back tears.
Papazian continues to undergo regular rehabilitation sessions. He also had to undergo another operation last month.
“And during all this time, not one person from Ferrari Quebec reached out to my family to offer them support,” he said.
‘A dangerously compromised vehicle’
According to the statement of claim, after the explosion, Papazian learned that the fuel rail and injectors had been removed from the engine of Poirier’s car by master technician Daniel Greco in July 2024, weeks ahead of his visit to the dealership.
The lawsuit alleges this was done “without taking any precaution to prevent anyone from starting the engine, thus rendering the Ferrari 360 a dangerously compromised vehicle that had become a ticking time bomb.”
A “horrible” situation
Reached by phone, Poirier confirmed his Ferrari was modified at the dealership and used for a demonstration without his knowledge or consent.
“It doesn’t make any sense,” said Poirier. “The car was not secured.”
Poirier didn’t learn about the explosion until he got an anonymous phone call.
His Ferrari was a total loss, but it was covered by private insurers. Poirier said the material loss was “a shame,” but doesn’t compare to Papazian’s ordeal.
“It’s sad for Mr. Papazian and his family. It’s horrible,” said Poirier.
Heavily-redacted police report
CTV News obtained a copy of an incident report prepared by Montreal police (SPVM) after the explosion.
The report concludes the fire was “accidental” and caused by “a series of human actions” that left Papazian with serious injuries.
However, several pages of the lengthy document are heavily redacted.
The SPVM declined CTV News’ request for an interview, but provided a written statement.
“The SPVM is not in a position to comment on the lawsuit referenced in your request. This matter concerns a civil proceeding between private parties,” the statement reads.
“As a public security organization, the SPVM must refrain from making any statement that could be perceived as influencing, validating, or contradicting matters currently before the courts. This includes any comment on allegations, evidence, or legal arguments presented within civil proceedings.”
Ferrari Quebec’s response
CTV News reached out to the lawyer representing Ferrari Quebec, Gad Bitton, Jean-Daniel Bienvenue, Daniel Greco and the other parties named in the lawsuit, but did not receive a response.
According to the lawsuit, Ferrari has not returned Papazian’s initial $20,000 deposit for the Ferrari 296 GTS Fiorano he originally intended to purchase.
Papazian claims he was told he should seek coverage from Quebec’s auto insurance board (SAAQ).
But the SAAQ does not automatically cover all automobile accidents, and notes that certain types of accidents are only covered by insurance offered by private insurers.
According to the SAAQ’s website, no compensation is paid for bodily injury for any “accident that occurs during an automobile race, competition, show, trial, demonstration or exhibition on a course or track temporarily or permanently closed to automobile traffic, or inside a building.”
Ongoing trauma
Papazian said he remains traumatized by the experience and can be triggered by small things at unexpected moments.
“It was my birthday and we went out and they brought the cake with sparklers, and I didn’t sleep all night because of it,” said Papazian.
UPDATE: Following the publication of this article, Ferrari Quebec responded to our request for comment via a public relations firm.
In the statement, it says, “Ferrari Québec is deeply saddened by the reported events, and our thoughts are with the seriously injured man and his family. The situation is extremely serious, and we sincerely hope for his recovery.
“Out of respect for all those involved and due to the ongoing legal process, we will not comment on the circumstances of the event.
“However, we wish to assure you that we are fully cooperating with the relevant authorities to shed light on the circumstances.
“We also wish to reiterate that the current portrayals do not accurately reflect Mr. Gad Bitton’s character. Those who know him know that he is a deeply committed man who has built his career through hard work and determination, and who places great importance on his responsibilities and human relations.”
