A Texas woman recently filed a new pressure cooker lawsuit in the U.S. District for the Central District of California. She claims that while using the Philippe Richard Pressure Cooker, she was seriously injured. She seeks general and special damages.
Pressure Cooker Allegedly Explodes, Burning Plaintiff
According to her complaint, the plaintiff and/or her family purchased the pressure cooker with the reasonable expectation that it was properly designed and manufactured, free from defects, and safe for its intended use in cooking.
She was using it to cook dinner when the pressure cooker’s lid “unexpectedly and suddenly blew off the pot in an explosive manner.” The contents of the cooker were forcefully ejected out of the pot and onto the plaintiff. She suffered from severe, disfiguring burns to her face, chest, and all four extremities.
She claims that the cooker was defectively and negligently designed and manufactured because it failed to prevent the lid from being removed while the unit was still pressurized. She adds that the manufacturer’s representations about how safe the cooker is are not just misleading, but “flatly wrong,” and put innocent consumers in danger.
Pressure Cooker Designed with Safety Mechanisms that Allegedly Didn’t Work
Tabletops Unlimited, Inc. designs and manufactures the Philippe Richard Pressure Cooker. The company advertises it as a means to cook faster and healthier meals, allowing consumers to preserve nutrients and flavors.
According to the owner’s manual accompanying each unit sold, the cookers are designed with an auto-lock system and triple-safety features. Said safety systems include the following:
- Pressure regulator: When the proper operating pressure is reached, the pressure regulator will rock gently and control the pressure inside the cooker.
- Safety lock: This automatically releases air from the unit as the cooker begins heating. As pressure builds, the safety lock slides up, causing the lock pin to lock the lid in place. The lock is in the “up” position when the cooker is pressurized, and the “down” position when the unit is depressurized and safe to open.
- Sealing ring: This fits inside the rim of the lid and forms a pressure-tight seal between the lid and the body of the cooker. If the vent pipe becomes clogged and excess pressure cannot be released normally, steam is automatically released by the overpressure plug.
The plaintiff claims that these safety devices did not work as expected. The lid on her cooker allegedly exploded off while the unit was still under pressure, which the safety mechanisms are supposed to prevent.
Many Different Brands of Pressure Cookers Named in Personal Injury Lawsuits
This is one of many pressure cooker lawsuits filed in courts around the country. All of them point to the alleged failure of the cookers’ safety mechanisms. Cookers made by Instant Pot, Crock Pot, Ninja Foodie, and others have all been the subject of lawsuits.
Most of the plaintiffs seeking compensation have suffered from serious and severe burns after their cookers exploded. Other injuries linked to pressure cookers include eye injuries and broken bones.
Exclusively focused on representing plaintiffs, especially in mass tort litigation, Eric Chaffin prides himself on providing unsurpassed professional legal services in pursuit of the specific goals of his clients and their families. Both his work and his cases have been featured in the national press, including on ABC’s Good Morning America.
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