Amazon Foot Warmer Lawsuit Alleges Heated Insoles Exploded, Caught Fire

After being inserted into a pair of work boots, the foot warmers allegedly caught fire while they were being used exactly as advertised.

A newly filed lawsuit claims that Amazon sold defective foot warmers to a Kansas woman that exploded while she was wearing them, causing severe burn injuries to her feet.

The complaint (PDF) was brought by Joni Caddell in The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma on December 3, naming Amazon.com Inc. and Meisinuo as defendants.

Foot warmers, also known as heated insoles, are rechargeable shoe inserts that use built-in heating elements and a small battery pack to warm the user’s feet in cold conditions. They often include low, medium and high heat settings that can be adjusted by a button or, in some models, a smartphone app.

Although some users turn to these devices for added comfort or to help improve circulation, they have also drawn safety concerns due to reports of overheating lithium-ion batteries causing fires and severe burns.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued several recent warnings for some brands, including Tajarly and iHeat. The alerts follow injuries and incidents in which batteries ignited or exploded, sometimes even when the devices were turned off.

According to the lawsuit, Caddell purchased the heated insoles from Amazon in November 2023, after seeing that they were advertised on the platform as rechargeable foot warmers suitable for outdoor use. The complaint states the product was stocked, marketed and shipped through Amazon’s “Fulfillment by Amazon” program, which handled warehousing, order processing and delivery.

However, the insoles allegedly exploded and caught fire moments after Caddell inserted them into her boots and began walking outside, causing severe burns to her feet that required emergency medical treatment. Caddell claims she had no way of knowing the insoles posed a fire hazard and was using them exactly as intended when the batteries ignited.

The lawsuit contends that both Amazon and the Chinese manufacturer, Meisinuo, placed a defective and unreasonably dangerous product into the marketplace. It argues the insoles contained design or manufacturing flaws that made them prone to explosion and fire during normal use, and that neither company warned consumers of the risk.

“Defendant Amazon knew, or reasonably should have known, that Plaintiff would not realize the danger of an explosion and fire when using the product for its intended and reasonably foreseeable use.”

— Joni Caddell v. Amazon.com Inc. and Meisinuo

Caddell raises claims of strict product liability, negligence and negligent undertaking. She alleges that Amazon was negligent in recommending, marketing and distributing the insoles despite their alleged dangers. The complaint also asserts that Amazon assumed a duty of care through its fulfillment program but failed to ensure the product was safe.

She is seeking damages exceeding $75,000 for medical expenses, pain, suffering and other losses.

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