E-Cigarette Manufacturer May Have to Pay the Price for Faulty Products
Posted by: DFX on Feb 11, 2017
In November, a group of attorneys filed several lawsuits against manufacturers and retailers in regards to e-cigarettes that were exploding and injury people. The lawsuit was directed at three people in three separate incidents.
The people involved were James Lauria of Okaloosa County, William Picket of Orange County, and David Studer of Duval County. The defendants include the company that made the cigarettes and the companies that made the batteries that go in the cigarettes. More than one of the companies in question are actually based in China.
Retailers who sold the e-cigarettes and batteries in question are also among the defendants. In fact, Samsung is one of the defendants. According to the lawsuit, the companies that made these e-cigs and batteries were negligent regarding both the design and the manufacturing of their products. Each of three cases involves either an e-cigarette or an e-cigarette exploding. Each of those explosions caused an injury.
In the case involving Luaria, he was on a break at work and was vaping. Out of nowhere, the e-cigarette exploded while in his mouth. His teeth were broken, his hand was broken, and there was actually a hole from the roof of his mouth to his naval cavity. What’s more, he actually had to be intubated as a result of the swelling in his esophagus, which got so serious that he couldn’t breathe on his own.
Eventually he was airlifted to Alabama to be treated at a special burn unit. They handled his additional injuries, which include a fractured vertebra, significant burns on his face and chest, and eye injuries from the explosion.
In the case involving Picket, he was on his way to work when his e-cigarette exploded while it was in his pants pocket. The result was that his leg actually caught fire and he had both second and third degree burns.
In the final case, Studer also received second and third degree burns when his e-cigarette battery exploded in the pocket of his shorts. All of the plaintiffs are suing for damages including mental anguish, medical costs, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and loss of future earnings.
If you’ve been the victim of a similar product liability issue then you need to reach out to Gilbert & Smallman. We are experienced in these cases and can help you get the compensation you deserve. Call us today for your free case evaluation.