Farberware Pressure Cooker Explosion Lawsuit Claims Defective Walmart Device Caused Severe Burn Injuries

Lawsuit claims Walmart refused to improve safety features despite numerous reports of similar explosions and burn injuries.

A Texas man has filed a Farberware pressure cooker lawsuit claiming the appliance exploded while he was cooking, causing permanent burn injuries to his face, chest and arms.

The complaint (PDF) was brought by Andre Owens in the U.S. District Court of Texas on May 21, naming Walmart Inc., the manufacturer and seller of the pressure cooker, as the defendant.

The Farberware 7-in-1 Programmable pressure cooker is a consumer kitchen appliance that uses high pressure to cook food rapidly. The device is typically designed with interlocking safety features intended to keep the lid secure when pressure builds to prevent users from opening the cooker while it is pressurized.

Although the devices have become increasingly popular over the past decade, numerous recalls and pressure cooker lawsuits have alleged that faulty safety features may allow the devices to explode or open while pressurized, spewing scalding contents onto users and causing severe burns.

Pressure Cooker Injury Allegations

According to the lawsuit, Owens used the Farberware pressure cooker on May 25, 2024 to prepare chicken and dumplings. After the cooking cycle ended, he attempted to open the lid, when the pressure cooker suddenly exploded.

Owens indicates the pressure cooker lid blew off with extreme force, despite the failsafe features of the product. The explosion spewed scalding liquid and steam across his body causing serious burn injuries to his abdomen, chest, neck, face, chin and arms.

The filing states that Farberware’s safety manual says the lid can only be removed once the pressure level lowers to required levels. However, Owens was able to remove the lid with built-up pressure still inside the unit.

Moreover, Walmart was allegedly aware of other exploding pressure cooker incidents linked to the defective design of the safety features, yet failed to take corrective action of any kind, including warning consumers or issuing a product recall.

“Defendant was previously aware of other incidents of exploding pressure cookers due to the identical design and manufacturing defects in the pressure cooker that maimed Plaintiff, yet Defendant failed to take adequate corrective action, including providing supplemental warnings, remedying the defect, withdrawing the product from sale, or otherwise protecting consumers from the latent danger caused by those known defects.”

— Andre Owens v. Walmart Inc.

The lawsuit presents claims of strict products liability design defect, manufacturing defect, marketing defect, failure to warn, negligence and post-sale failure to warn, breach of express warranty, breach of implied warranty of merchantability, gross negligence and deceptive trade practices.

It seeks punitive and compensatory damages for Owens’ physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, physical impairment, disfigurement, medical expenses, future medical expenses, lost wages and loss of earning capacity.

Pressure Cooker Injury Lawsuits

Owens’ complaint is one of many pressure cooker explosion lawsuits filed in recent years against major brands and retailers, including Instant Pot, Shark Ninja, Crock-Pot and others. 

The lawsuits allege the electric kitchen devices suffer from major safety design flaws that allow for unsafe cooking conditions.

Pressure cooker injury attorneys are investigating potential claims on behalf of consumers harmed by the exploding devices. Individuals who suffered burns or other serious complications following one of these incidents may be eligible to pursue compensation for their damages.

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