Hovatter v. Shell Oil Company

HAYS, Chief Justice:

Jurisdiction of this case was taken pursuant to Arizona Podiatry Assn. v. Director of Insurance, 101 Ariz. 544, 422 P.2d 108 (1966).

Plaintiff Ray Hovatter had had his butane tank filled at Simkins Shell Service, operated by C. Dan Simkins, about three or four days prior to May 18, 1968. On the night of May 18, the other butane tank that Hovatter used for home heating and cooking went out and he hooked up the recently filled second tank. The bleeder valve was leaking; he tightened it, but a few minutes later one of his daughters smelled gas in the house. Hovatter went out…