Suit filed over girl’s burns at gas station

Monday, April 17, 2000 | 11:30 a.m.

A Las Vegas family sued Exxon Mobil Corp., General Motors Corp., two fuel dispensing equipment manufacturers and the owners of a Mighty Mart Station in Henderson, alleging their negligence and a defective gas pump caused their child to be severely burned while she was pumping gasoline at the station.

In a Clark County District Court suit, Alessandro and Christine Canfora alleged their daughter Alexis Nicole, who was 8 at the time of the accident, suffered second and third degree burns over 50 percent of her body on March 16, 1999, after an electrostatic charge that had built up on her as she exited the family car, a 1994 Chevrolet Camaro, ignited the gasoline vapors and engulfed her in flames as she was pumping gas.

The plaintiffs say they weren't able to stop the flow of gasoline because the emergency fuel shut-off valve on the exterior wall of the mini-mart at 234 North Arroyo Grande Blvd. was allegedly locked shut.

The suit alleged the fuel dispenser and a rubber-covered handle and trigger of the nozzle were made of materials that would not ground an electrostatic charge.

The defendants have not responded to the allegations. A Mighty Mart attorney declined comment.