Woman Sues Bar For Serving Her Alcohol After She Causes $10m Home Explosion

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A Canadian lady who was found guilty of driving while drunk in an accident that resulted in a significant explosion in London, Ontario in 2019 is suing the restaurant and bar that provided her alcohol in an effort to hold them financially responsible.

When Daniella Leis, 26, slammed into a home at 450 Woodman Avenue, she broke a gas line that later caused an explosion and caused damages estimated to be between C$13 million and C$20 million ($9.8 million to $14.7 million in USD). 

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This incident garnered national headlines.

She was given a three-year prison sentence in 2021 after entering a guilty plea to four counts of drinking and driving.

Leis is currently suing Ovations Ontario Food Services, claiming that the business is partially liable for any civil claims made by blast victims against her and her father Shawn Leis due to the explosion.

The father and daughter have filed a statement of claim in a London court asking for a determination that Ovations Ontario Food Services LP is responsible for "any awards or judgment amounts," including interest and costs, resulting from six Ontario Superior Court and small claims court actions brought by Woodman Avenue victims against them.

According to the lawsuit, Leis has been intoxicated at Budweiser Gardens on August 14, 2019, the night of the collision and explosion, and as a result, any harm done to the victims was "caused or contributed to by the negligence, breach of duty, or breach of contract" committed by the bar in violation of the Occupiers' Liability Act or Liquor Licence Act.

The company has not yet replied to the accusations.

Ovations is accused of, among other things, selling her alcohol while it knew she was drunk, failing to train or supervise staff serving alcohol, and "putting profit over safety."

Leis drove the wrong way along Queen's Avenue before slamming into a brick house at 450 Woodman Avenue, severing the gas line, according to the 2019 case documents, after leaving a Marilyn Manson concert at Budweiser Gardens.

Four homes were damaged and seven individuals were hurt in the blast.