SFI 59 LP d/b/a Briarwood Apartments v. American Honda Motor Co., Inc., et al

Case Background

On September 9, 2021, Plaintiff  SFI 59 LP d/b/a Briarwood Apartments filed a product liability lawsuit in the Texas State, Harris County District Court(Case number: 202158144). Judge Donna Roth presided over this case.

Cause

On June 16, 2020, a fire broke out at Briarwood Apartments in Houston during the early hours of the morning. SFI 59 L.P., the plaintiff, owned the complex. The fire originated from a 2020 Honda CR-V, which had been parked in the complex’s parking lot for about 10 hours with the engine turned off. The fire spread to a small section of the apartment complex, causing significant property damage. At the time, the car’s owner was visiting family members who lived at the complex. Investigators linked the fire’s origin to a suspected manufacturing defect in the vehicle. As a result, SFI filed a product liability lawsuit against American Honda Motor Company Inc., the manufacturer of the vehicle, accusing them of causing the fire through the alleged defect.

Injuries

The fire caused extensive property damage to Briarwood Apartments. While no injuries occurred, the fire affected both the residential and commercial sections of the complex. The damage destroyed parts of the building’s infrastructure, disrupting the lives of tenants living in the affected areas. SFI and its tenants faced substantial costs due to repairs and restoration work required to fix the damage.

Damages

SFI sought compensation for the damages to Briarwood Apartments, including destruction of the complex and the high costs of repair.

Key Arguments and Proceedings

Legal representation

  • Plaintiff(s): SFI 59 LP d/b/a Briarwood Apartments
    • Counsel for Plaintiff: Adam Q. Voyles | McKenna Harper
  • Defendant(s): American Honda Motor Co., Inc. | Jianning Tao | Juxiang Li |  Xuefang Peng
    • Counsel for Defendants: Benjamin Zinnecker | Chris Blackerby

Claims

SFI filed a lawsuit against American Honda Motor Company Inc., accusing them of a manufacturing defect in the 2020 Honda CR-V that led to the fire. SFI argued that the vehicle was defective, which caused it to catch fire even though it had been turned off for an extended period. In addition to suing Honda, SFI also pursued legal action against the car’s owner and the two tenants, Juxiang Li and Xuefang Peng. However, the claims against the tenants were settled before trial for undisclosed amounts.

Defense

Honda denied any defect in the 2020 Honda CR-V and argued that the fire was not caused by a manufacturing flaw. The company contended that the vehicle was functioning properly and that no defect in its design or construction contributed to the fire. Additionally, Honda attempted to hold two tenants, Juxiang Li and Xuefang Peng, responsible through contribution claims, asserting that they had some role in the incident.

Jury Verdict

On February 21, 2024, the jury found Honda liable for a manufacturing defect in the 2020 Honda CR-V. They determined that the defect was the direct cause of the fire at Briarwood Apartments. The jury awarded SFI $525,429.37 in damages to cover property loss and repair costs. In its findings, the jury did not attribute negligence to the plaintiff, SFI, or the defendant tenants, Juxiang Li and Xuefang Peng, as contributing to the fire.

Court Documents:

Documents are available for purchase upon request at jurimatic@exlitem.com