NEWPORT — Sharon Everett, who was critically burned last July in a freak chemical explosion inside her car, has sued several companies and individuals connected with the manufacturing, packaging and handling of the materials.

        The suit, filed in Campbell County Circuit Court, claims that negligence caused the fire in the victim's car in the driveway of her Fort Thomas home July 9.

        Mrs. Everett, 51, bought items at a Meijer store, including a pool cleaner containing calcium hypochlorite, and an algaecide. The suit alleges that both chemicals leaked from their containers and combined, creating a flammable substance that ignited in her car.

        She was severely burned in the intense flash fire and lost her eyelids, lips and ears. Mrs. Everett returned home last week after eight months in the hospital.

        Named in the suit are Meijer Inc.; Haviland Inc. of Grand Rapids, Mich., manufacturer of the pool cleaners; two packaging firms that make the bags in which the items were carried; the plastics company that manufactured the containers; and the cashier and bagger who handled her purchase.

        The suit seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. It claims the containers were leaking when they were placed in the bag at the store.

        Attorneys Fred Shaley and Jerome Epping Jr., requested a jury trial before Circuit Court Judge Leonard Kopowski.

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