LincVolt Burned Yet Again - This Time by Insurance Lawyers

Neil Young testing LincVolt - 2008
Photo by Brant Ward / The Chronicle

LincVolt is being burned yet again. This time its by a lawsuit being filed by insurance lawyers related to the disastrous warehouse fire in 2010.

From Neil Young's company sued over Peninsula warehouse fire sparked by hybrid car - San Jose Mercury News by Joshua Melvin:

The company founded by rocker Neil Young to convert his one-of-a-kind LincVolt hybrid electric car is being sued for nearly $500,000 after the vehicle sparked a fire that seriously damaged two San Carlos warehouses in 2010, according to a lawsuit.

The suit, filed Tuesday by Unigard Insurance Co., says LincVolt LLC, which lists Young as an officer, was negligent when it converted the 1959 Lincoln Continental to run on electricity and a biodiesel-powered generator.

"The altering of a gas-powered 1959 vehicle and its components is an extreme departure from what a reasonably careful person would do," Unigard Insurance Co. claims in the suit filed in San Mateo County Superior Court.

"what a reasonably careful person would do"?

We're sorry, but this is exactly what we need -- environmentally safer, alternative forms of transportation.

It's sad that the insurance firm is making its case on the opposite and indirectly discouraging much needed innovation.

Lincvolt is truly revolutionary.

Neil's LincVolt (which happens to be re-powering the American Dream) will be the world's first Series Hybrid Electric car with a generator fueled by cellulosic ethanol from biomass.

It is this attempt by Unigard Insurance Corporation to stifle innovation and discourage risk taking which is so disturbing. Clearly the fire was an accident and not the result of reckless negligence. Unigard Insurance Corporation is attempting to avoid covering an approved claim upon which its contractually obligated.

Most likely, this will turn into a PR disaster for Unigard when other policyholders see how they handle an "unforeseen accident" like this especially when their website encourages potential clients to take out additional insurance for special coverage like breakdown in equipment. (Thanks MNOTR).

The last time we saw someone truly regret filing a lawsuit against Neil Young, was when media mogul David Geffen sued Young in 1983 for $3 million for violating his contract by recording ‘unrepresentative’ albums. Ironically, the lawsuit accused Neil Young of not making Neil Young music, thus becoming the only artist in the history to be sued for not being them self.

Good luck Unigard. Hope you consulted Geffen first.

Or did you check with Jimmy McDonough on what its like to tangle in court with Neil?

Lincvolt long may you run!

You can't burn a dream down...

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