Bic Sued in Woman’s Death by Lighter

PHILADELPHIA — A man who says his wife died as a result of a butane lighter exploding in her hands has filed an $11-million federal suit against the Bic Corp.

Francis H. Smith alleged in the suit filed last week that his wife, Ethel, died because of the lighter’s defective design and inadequate safety features.

“We stand behind our lighter,” said Allen Lipson, corporate counsel for Bic Corp. in Milford, Conn. Lipson said he had not read Smith’s suit and could not comment on it.

Last October, Bic agreed to pay $3.25 million to another Philadelphia woman who said she was engulfed in flames after placing a defective Bic lighter in her pocket. The woman survived.