PITTSBURGH - TikTok is among defendants blamed for a fire allegedly caused by a portable phone charger and left a Mercer County boy with third-degree burns.
The 5000mAh Power Bank Portable Charger featured a lithium-ion battery that ignited in October, a Dec. 26 lawsuit on behalf of a minor know as Z.P. alleges. In addition to TikTok, PQRQP Shop faces claims for design defect, manufacturing defect, failure to warn, negligence, breach of warranty.
Lawyers have filed scores of lawsuits over burn hazards posed by products featuring lithium-ion batteries, and last month the Consumer Product Safety Commission notified the public of a recall of power banks made by Charmast.
About a half-million chargers were subject to the recall, forced by 44 overheating and fire complaints. Two months earlier, power banks made by Anker were called due to the same concerns, which has sent some law firms on the search for clients.
The power bank in Z.P.'s lawsuit was made by Guangdong Jieyuan Network Technology, which does business as PQRQP Shop and sells its products on TikTok Shop.
"Plaintiff had his cell phone connected to the charger when the charger suddenly caught fire, burning his face, hands and torso," the lawsuit says.
Z.P. suffered third-degree burns to his abdomen; second-degree burns to his abdomen, face, hands and wrist; and first-degree burns to his face, the suit says. Bruises and other internal injuries also occurred, plus nervousness, emotional tension, anxiety and depression, the suit says.
"He has endured and will continue to endure great pain, suffering, inconvenience, embarrassment, mental anguish, monetary expenditures for the care of his injury and emotional and psychological trauma," the suit says.
Z.P. missed time at school and might have surgery in the future, while his strength and vitality "have been impaired," the suit says.
PQRQP Shop and TikTok owed Z.P. a duty to design, manufacture and sell a product free of design defects, the suit says.
Richard Talarico of Woomer & Talarico represents the plaintiff. The amount of damages sought is not specified in the complaint.