JOHNSTOWN — A consumer alleges she suffered severe burns from a pressure cooker due to the product's defective design.
Molly Cummings filed a complaint Nov. 17 in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania-Johnstown Division against Instant Brands Inc., alleging strict product liability, negligence and other claims.
According to her complaint, Cummings purchased Instant Brand's "Instant Pot" pressure cooker from Costco on Nov. 28, 2019. She alleges that on Dec. 5, 2019, she suffered "substantial" burns due to the pressure cooker's lid being able to be rotated and opened while still under pressure.
Cummings further alleges the product's design defect allows "scalding hot contents" to be forcefully ejected. She claims Instant Brands failed to properly market, design and manufacture the pressure cooker and failed to have adequate warnings and instructions on the product. Cummings also claims Instant Brands "over-promoted and marketed" the pressure cooker and knew or should have known of the danger that consumers could remove the lid while the pressure cooker was still pressurized and failed to test the product.
Cummings seeks monetary relief, interest, trial by jury and all other just relief. She is represented by Adam Kress, Michael Johnson and Kenneth Pearson of Johnson Becker PLLC in St. Paul, Minnesota.
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania Johnstown Division case number 3:21-CV-00202-KRG