PHILADELPHIA — A consumer claims a defective safety measure on a pressure cooker caused her to suffer serious burns.
Amber Durham filed a complaint Dec. 10 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against Instant Brands Inc., alleging strict liability, negligence and other claims.
Durham alleges in her complaint that on Dec. 26, 2019, she suffered "serious and substantial" burns while using the Instant Pot Programmable Electric Pressure Cooker" manufactured, marketed and distributed by the defendant. Specifically, Durham claims that the pressure cooker's lid was able to be removed, rotated and opened while the unit was still under pressure which allowed the hot contents to be forcefully ejected from the unit and onto her body.
She alleges as a result of her injuries, she incurred $5,700 in medical expenses and suffered scarring to her breasts, neck and arms. Durham also alleges the defendant's product was defectively and negligently designed and that the defendants failed to adequately test the product or have adequate warnings and instructions on the product. She claims the defendants also had misleading information regarding the pressure cooker's safety features.
Durham seeks monetary relief of more than $75,000, interest, trial by jury and all other just relief. She is represented by Benjamin Present of Kline & Specter PC in Philadelphia and Micheal Johnson, Kenneth Pearson and Adam Kress of Johnson Becker PLLC in St. Paul, Minnesota.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania case number 2:21-CV-05417