In a dramatic legal confrontation, an insurance company has filed a lawsuit against a prominent golf cart manufacturer following a devastating fire incident. Zurich American Insurance Company lodged the complaint in the Circuit Court of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit in Palm Beach County, Florida, on October 13, 2025, targeting Club Car, LLC as the defendant.
The case revolves around a fire that occurred on October 28, 2023, at Boca Rio Golf Club’s storage facility. According to the complaint, Zurich American Insurance Company claims that a “Tempo” golf cart purchased from Club Car was responsible for igniting the blaze. The fire allegedly originated in the dash area of the golf cart and subsequently spread throughout the storage building, destroying not only the structure but also other carts and valuable equipment. The insurance company asserts that video surveillance footage captured evidence of the fire starting in this specific area of the cart.
Zurich American Insurance Company argues that despite being turned off with keys removed from the ignition, certain components within the dash remained energized. These included a two-port USB charging station and a battery level indicator. An investigation conducted by experts ruled out external causes or aftermarket additions as potential sources of ignition. Instead, they attributed the fire to an inherent defect within Club Car’s vehicle design.
The plaintiff accuses Club Car of negligence and strict product liability for designing and manufacturing what they describe as a defective product. They further allege breaches of implied warranties regarding merchantability and fitness for particular purposes under U.S.C Section 2301 standards applicable to consumer products like golf carts used by Boca Rio Golf Club members.
As subrogee to Boca Rio Golf Club’s rights due to payments made under their insurance policy covering damages caused by this incident—estimated at over $50,000—the plaintiff seeks compensatory damages from Club Car along with pre-judgment interest costs associated with litigation proceedings against them.
Representing Zurich American Insurance Company is attorney Sean P. Ravenel from Foran Glennon Palandech Ponzi & Rudloff PC law firm based out of Tampa Bay Area offices located on North Lois Avenue Suite 505 FL33607 phone number (656)207-8042 email contact sravenel@fgppr.com secondary ahall@fgppr.com; Case ID: 502025CA010611XXXAMB Div: AO presided over by Judge Michael A Caruso Clerk Palm Beach County Court System where filing took place electronically via E-filed system timestamped October thirteenth twenty-twenty-five four twenty fifty-five PM local time zone settings apply accordingly throughout documentations submitted therein.
Source: 502025CA010611XXXAMB_Zurich_American_v_Club_Car_Complaint_Palm_Beach_County_Florida.pdf
