Amazon Heated Blanket Lawsuit Claims Product Fire Resulted in Man Becoming Paraplegic

Series of heated blanket recalls issued in recent years have warned that design and manufacturing defects may cause the products to overheat, increasing the risk of burns and residential fires.

A product liability lawsuit filed against Amazon claims that an electric heated blanket sold through the online marketplace erupted in flames while an Ohio man slept, leaving him with severe burns and life-altering injuries.

The complaint (PDF) was brought by Douglas Lamb in the Knox County, Ohio Court of Common Pleas on April 29, naming Amazon Fulfillment Services Inc. and Amazon.com Inc. as defendants. The case was removed to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio on June 2.

Lamb claims Amazon negligently allowed an unverified third-party seller to use its online marketplace to sell a defective heated blanket, exposing himself, and other consumers, to the risk of electrical malfunctions, overheating and fire hazards.

Heated Blanket Recalls

Heated electric blankets are designed with built-in wiring that generates warmth, making them popular during colder months for consumers looking for added comfort or supplemental heat. However, the products can pose serious risks when electrical components are defectively designed, poorly manufactured or lack adequate safety controls.

In recent years, a number of heated blanket recalls have been issued after manufacturers identified defects that may cause the blankets to overheat, creating a risk of burns, fires or other serious injuries.

In November 2023, nearly 30,000 Berkshire Blanket heated throws and blankets were recalled due to a manufacturing defect that could cause the products to overheat and potentially ignite. That same year, about 43,000 Sunbeam heated blankets were recalled after reports that the products were overheating during use.

In June of last year, approximately 8,500 MaxKare electric blankets sold through Walmart were recalled following dozens of reports involving overheating incidents, including fires and burn injuries.

Those safety concerns have also led to product liability lawsuits against manufacturers, retailers and online marketplaces like Amazon, which have been accused of failing to prevent dangerous heated blankets from reaching consumers. In October 2025, a Washington woman claimed a Threshold Heated Throw from Target was defectively designed, reaching temperatures high enough to cause second-degree burns on her toes.

Heated Blanket Fire Allegations

According to the lawsuit, Lamb purchased a CHRUN twin-size electric heated blanket through Amazon’s online marketplace on April 21, 2023. He claims the blanket was used in a normal and intended manner after it was delivered and showed no signs of misuse.

The lawsuit indicates that on January 28, 2025, the blanket suddenly caught fire while Lamb was sleeping, causing fourth-degree burns to his right shoulder and both legs. The complaint states that the severe burn injuries ultimately left him paraplegic.

Lamb claims that the blanket was sold by a third-party seller identified as “CHRUN,” which the lawsuit describes as an unverified and effectively anonymous vendor operating through Amazon’s marketplace. The complaint alleges Amazon failed to adequately investigate the seller, verify the origin and safety of the product, or take reasonable steps to prevent potentially dangerous electrical products from being offered for sale.

The lawsuit argues that Amazon exercised substantial control over the sale of products offered through its marketplace, including approving sellers, managing product listings, processing payments, monitoring customer complaints and, in some instances, storing and shipping products through its fulfillment network. Lamb alleges those activities created a duty to protect consumers from unsafe products sold through the platform.

Lamb claims that Amazon knew or should have known electric heated blankets pose a significant risk of fires and burn injuries if defectively designed or manufactured. Despite those risks, the lawsuit indicates the company allowed the CHRUN heated blanket to remain available for purchase without adequately verifying its safety, compliance history or manufacturing controls.

“Specifically, had Amazon exercised reasonable care in screening sellers, verifying product safety, and preventing the sale of untraceable electrical products, the subject heated blanket would not have been made available for purchase through its platform, and the incident giving rise to this action would not have occurred.”

— Douglas Lamb v. Amazon Fulfillment Services Inc. et al.

The lawsuit raises allegations of negligence and negligent undertaking. It seeks damages for severe and permanent injuries, pain and suffering, medical expenses and other losses allegedly resulting from the heated blanket fire.

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