Trial Magazine

Alonzo Yanes, 16, was attending chemistry class at his New York City public high school when his teacher, Anna Poole, conducted the so-called Rainbow Experiment—a science experiment that creates flames in rainbow colors. During the demonstration, Poole placed small amounts of methanol into four evaporation dishes containing nitrates and then used a handheld lighter to ignite the methanol. The experiment worked, and Poole decided to repeat it. Instead of pouring a small amount of methanol into a beaker and then pipetting additional amounts into the evaporation dishes, however, the teacher took a gallon jug of methanol and either poured it directly into one of the heated evaporation dishes or brought the jug close enough to the dishes to ignite the vapors coming from the jug.

The methanol fumes caught fire, and the flames jetted outward toward Yanes and another student. Yanes suffered severe burns to 30% of his body, necessitating five surgeries, including skin grafts, and a two-month hospitalization. He now has disfigurement on his ears, face, and neck.

Yanes’s parents, individually and on his behalf, sued Poole and the New York City Department of Education, alleging negligent performance of the experiment. The plaintiffs claimed that Poole should have performed the experiment in a classroom that had a fume hood to remove flammable vapors from the room. They also asserted that the experiment was dangerous as evidenced by the U.S. Chemical Safety Board’s warning about the Rainbow Experiment’s hazards before the plaintiff’s injury. Suit also alleged that Poole had not taken proper safety precautions.

The jury awarded more than $59.1 million, finding both defendants liable.

Citation: Yanes v. City of N.Y., No. 161066/2014 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. New York Cnty. July 1, 2019).

Plaintiff counsel: AAJ members Ben B. Rubinowitz and Richard Steigman, both of New York City.