A Montana man recently filed a new Crock-Pot pressure cooker lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana. He claims that when he was using the Crock-Pot Express Crock Multicooker, it malfunctioned, causing him to suffer from serious injuries.
His case joins several similar pressure cooker cases filed throughout the country, in which plaintiffs claim the products didn’t work as expected—mainly, that the safety mechanisms failed.
Plaintiff Claims Crock-Pot Safety Mechanisms Failed
According to his complaint, the plaintiff was cooking with his Crock-Pot pressure cooker when he was able to open the lid while the unit was still under pressure. This allowed the scalding hot contents to be forcefully ejected from the cooker onto him, causing him to suffer from substantial burn injuries.
He asserts that the incident occurred because the cooker’s supposed “safety measures,” which purport to keep the consumer safe while using the device, failed, including the safety sensor that is supposed to keep the lid closed until all the pressure has been released.
In the owner’s manual, which accompanies each unit sold, manufacturer Sunbeam states that the pressure cookers are designed “with safety in mind…” Of the safety sensor that is supposed to keep the lid closed, the manual reads that pressure “will not build if the lid is not shut correctly and has not sealed,” and that once “the pressure increases, the lid cannot be opened.”
The plaintiff states, however, that he could remove the lid with normal force while the unit remained pressurized despite the appearance that all pressure had been released. He argues that Sunbeam’s representations about “safety” are not just misleading but “flatly wrong” and put innocent consumers like him in harm’s way.
He brings counts of strict liability, negligence, negligent design, failure to warn, and breach of warranties and seeks economic losses and pain and suffering.
Crock-Pot Pressure Cookers Previously Recalled for Dangerous Defects
Pressure cookers have long been a staple in kitchens around the country, favored by home cooks who enjoy making wholesome meals in a short amount of time. Manufacturers emphasize their convenience, advertising that they help busy families enjoy nutritious, home-cooked meals.
In recent years, manufacturers have improved the design of these cookers, responding to the concern about the danger inherent in using high-pressure and scalding steam to cook food. They’ve touted new, user-friendly features that are supposed to make cooking easy and safe.
Unfortunately, many of these newer cookers have malfunctioned, causing explosions and severe burn injuries for consumers. Over the years, several pressure cooker models have been recalled after reports of serious injuries, including serious burns.
On November 24, 2020, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced the recall of nearly one million Crock-Pot 6-Quart Express Crock Multicookers because they could pressurize when the lid was not fully locked. This could cause the lid to suddenly detach while the product was in use, posing burn risks to consumers from hot food and liquids ejected from the product.
If you or someone you know is burned by a pressure cooker, seek medical attention immediately, then consult with a product liability attorney to explore your options for potentially receiving compensation.
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.
