The lawsuit, filed Jan. 25 in Maricopa County Superior Court by Hanover Insurance Co., claims negligence for the blaze that destroyed a 12,000-square-foot tent at Westworld of Scottsdale and threatened a plywood barn stabling 100 horses during the Arizona Sun Country Circuit quarter horse show on Jan. 29, 2004.
The insurance company sued on behalf of its client, a purveyor of horse-riding attire. Hanover is seeking to recover the money it paid to On the Rail Clothing Co.
The suit seeks $100,000 from each defendant.
A Rural/Metro investigation conducted after the early-morning blaze showed while there were ``grossly'' overloaded circuits and explosive gasses nearby, it was ultimately an overheated extension cord that sparked the blaze. The tent was filled with Western wear, jewelry, saddles and riding apparel.
The department never issued a citation because it could not pinpoint which of the 80 vendors might have overloaded the extension cord.
Rural/Metro Corp. spokeswoman Liz Merritt said Monday that was company policy not to comment on matters involving pending litigation.
``We don't believe the city was negligent,'' Scottsdale assistant city attorney Deborah Robberson said.
