2ND SUIT FILED IN BARBECUE FIRE.

Byline: Orith Goldberg Staff Writer

VALENCIA - A second lawsuit has been filed against the Hart PONY League, stemming from last summer's flash fire in the barbecue area of the Valencia complex.

The suit filed on behalf of 15-year-old Kurtis Anaya alleges negligence, premises liability and negligent infliction of emotional distress. Named in the suit, filed Feb. 22, are the William S. Hart PONY Baseball and Softball League, PONY League Baseball and Softball International and The Newhall Land and Farming Company, which provides the land to the youth organization.

The complaint also alleges negligence and product liability against Manchester Tanks, based in Brentwood, Tenn., and negligence by the Santa Clarita Mobile Station, which supplied the propane that caught fire in the concession July 18 and injured five.

Anaya was one of three workers seriously injured when propane from a leaking tank ignited in the barbecue area during post-season all-star play at the Valencia Boulevard complex.

Anaya is seeking payment of $65,000 for past medical expenses as well as future costs. The teen also is seeking damages relating to the emotional turmoil he suffered as a result of his injuries, his attorney John Girardi said.

The boy suffered first- to third-degree burns to least 50 percent of his body and has since undergone extensive skin grafting, Girardi said.

Doctors have adopted a wait-and-see attitude about his future medical needs, Girardi said.

Anaya's lawsuit states that ``a propane gas tank in the concession stand developed a substantial leak as a result of the conduct of all of the defendants,'' and alleges the propane gas tank was ``defective and unsafe for its intended purposes,'' due to ``poor manufacturing'' by Manchester Tanks.

The complaint further alleges that representatives from Manchester Tanks were aware that the propane tank was ``defective and dangerous'' and should not have put such a tank on the market.

Santa Clarita Mobile Station is blamed for negligence in supplying propane to the league and Newhall Land, ``so as to allow a leak of propane to occur,'' the suit said.

Burk Wiedner, an attorney representing the gas station, refused comment pending review of the lawsuit.

Representatives from Manchester Tanks were not available for comment Tuesday.

The complaint also accuses the league and Newhall Land of careless and negligent maintenance by allowing storage of propane tanks in the concession stand, close to the barbecue.

Newhall Land spokeswoman Marlee Lauffer declined comment on the lawsuit since she had not yet seen it.

Lauffer added that as part of Newhall Land's $1-a-year donation of the land to the league, the league indemnifies the company from any liability on the property.

The league and Newhall Land already face a lawsuit filed on behalf of another teen, Allie Haynes, who was working in the barbecue area when fire erupted. Haynes suffered burns to 43 percent of her body.

Another of the seriously burned victims, Gloria ``Dee'' Grant, said Tuesday that she, too, will sue.

Grant suffered second- and third-degree burns to more than 65 percent of her body as a result of the flash fire. She has since undergone three surgeries on her legs and one on her right hand about two weeks ago to repair internal injuries. Grant said she now has about 60 percent use of that hand.

Another victim, 12-year-old Zachary Kibbee, was also working at the concession stand and preparing to leave when he suffered burns, his lawyer said. Unlike the other victims, Kibbee did not receive extensive hospitalization.