A cheap phone charger is at the centre of a Manitoba lawsuit after a couple’s SUV caught fire and their insurance claim was denied.
Jason and Christine Philion of Garson are suing Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) and several companies connected to the charger, according to CBC News. The fire destroyed their 2017 Chevrolet Traverse in Beausejour, east of Winnipeg, on February 17.
Jason had parked outside a restaurant around 6 p.m. and walked his son across the street to a boxing class. A phone charger purchased from Dollar Tree was still plugged into a rear power outlet. About 15 minutes later, a restaurant employee rushed into the gym to report a vehicle fire, which turned out to be their SUV.
MPI later denied the couple’s insurance claim, concluding the fire was purposely set. Investigators pointed to burn patterns suggesting an accelerant was used, while lab tests detected gasoline in the carpet.
The Philions disagree, as their lawsuit alleges the charger “overheated, short-circuited, melted and/or ignited” while plugged in. They also claim its packaging failed to warn that leaving it connected could cause a fire.
The lawsuit names Dollar Tree, a distributor and the unidentified manufacturer. The couple wants compensation for their SUV, valued at approximately $43,000, plus rental and towing costs. They’re also asking the court to declare they didn’t deliberately start the fire.
None of the allegations have been proven in court, and no statements of defence have been filed, CBC reports.
Phone accessory fire risks aren’t new, and this story sounds wild. A Belkin wireless charger was previously recalled over fire hazards, while an Anker power bank recall also affected Canada.
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