The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission has recently recalled Crock-Pot brand 6-Quart Express Crock Pot Multi-Cookers due to a burn hazard. According to the recall notice, the hazard comes from the pressure cooker lid pressurizing, even though the lid is not fully locked. The problem is that when the lid pressurizes, but is not fully secure, the lid can suddenly blow off, spewing 250-degree water and steam onto anyone who is near the appliance.
Prior Notice of Injuries
This recall comes following years of investigation into complaints from consumers being injured by their pressure cookers. The Commission reported that at the time of the recall, they had received over 119 reports of lid detachment, resulting in 99 burn injuries, from first degree burns to third-degree burns. These types of burns would typically involve permanent scarring, skin discoloration, along with a potential chronic pain condition.
Devices Affected
Per the recall, about 914,430 pressure cookers are affected with the model number SCCPPC600-V1. The recall urges consumers to “immediately stop using the recalled Crock-Pot in pressure cooker mode” although they say it can still be used as a slow cooker or for sauteing.
Retailers Involved
These Sunbeam products were sold at Walmart, Best Buy, Target, Bed Bath, Kohls, Amazon, and other retailers during the period July 2017 and November 2020.
Consumer Remedies
The remedy being offered by Sunbeam Products, the manufacturer of the Crock Pot, is to provide a free replacement lid. The recall, however, does not provide a remedy for personal injuries stemming from their defective pressure cooker lid.
Civil Remedies
A civil remedy may be available to those who were injured because of Sunbeam’s neglect in designing and producing a product safe for its intended use. In this case, Sunbeam had plenty of notice that its product was burning people. Yet they continued to sell and distribute the product. In this scenario, a civil claim for money for medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, scarring, and other damages would likely be available. The amount of money available would depend on the injuries experienced and the timing of the claim. In a similar case where a Lifetime Products pressure cooker with a faulty locking mechanism exploded and a young child suffered severe burns and amputation of her leg, hip and fingers, the parties ended up settling for $26 million.
If you have been injured by one of these products, please call us today for a free consultation on what remedies may be available to you or a loved one.
Ron Kramer is a Utah-based trial lawyer focused on helping those who have been seriously injured because of another’s negligence.
