MIAMI A woman who was allegedly severely burned by flaming rum during
a Bacardi promotion sued the wine and spirits producer, claiming the
product was defective and dangerous.
Danielle Alleyne, of Miami, suffered horrific burns after she was hit
by the flaming rum at a Miami night club in August 2002, according to
the lawsuit filed Monday in Miami-Dade County Circuit Court.
"The burning rum stuck to her skin and continued to burn as she fell to
the floor and tried to put herself out," the lawsuit said.
Alleyne suffered second and third degree burns on her face, neck, chest
and back and is permanently disabled and disfigured, the lawsuit said.
After hours telephone messages left at the Miami-based Bacardi USA,
Inc., were not immediately returned.
A bartender, who was not identified in the lawsuit, was pouring shots
when a customer lit a menu on fire and placed it in the stream of
alcohol. A bottle of Bacardi 151 that was being used to pour the shots turned
into a flame thrower and sent flaming rum all over Alleyne, the lawsuit
said.
A telephone message left after hours at the office of Robert Dickman,
Alleyne's attorney, was not immediately returned.
The lawsuit alleges that Bacardi 151 proof rum "emits a high volume of
combustible and explosive vapor" which makes it "unreasonably
dangerous" and a "defective product."
