Conway restaurant’s negligence led to fire, injured customer, lawsuit says

A Horry County man is suing a restaurant and fire suppression system manufacturer, saying he suffered second-degree burns during a fire that required skin grafts. .

Kendric Holoman was visiting Lucky’s Sports Pub and Grill on Oct. 12, 2025, when a fire broke out.

One or more employees “failed to attend to cooking materials,” and a fire started in the kitchen’s deep fryer, according to the lawsuit that was filed on Feb. 12. When the bartender allegedly called for help from patrons, Holoman tried to put out the fire.

A representative for Lucky’s Sports Pub and Grill said he wasn’t aware of the lawsuit and disputed the allegation that staff sought help from patrons.

The fire suppression system made by Johnson Controls Inc. failed to activate and employees failed to call emergency services, the suit says.

Holoman said he had to seek medical care on his own for second-degree burns to his face, arm and hands with treatment in excess of $150,000.

The lawsuit alleges Lucky’s is responsible for failing to maintain the fryer and fire suppression system, failing to properly train employees, allowing the fire to start, failing to put out the fire, relying on customers to extinguish the fire, failing to evacuate the restaurant and failing to render aid to Holoman.

The suit also cites Johnson Controls as liable and negligent for the fire suppression system’s “defective and unreasonably dangerous design,” alleging that a safer design would have prevented a malfunction.

Holoman is seeking actual, consequential and punitive damages, as well as further relief the court deems just and proper.

Johnson Controls did not respond to requests for comment before publication.