GE Settles Oven Tipover Lawsuit for $500K Over Children Injured

General Electric (GE) has reached an agreement to pay $500,000 to settle an oven tipover lawsuit filed by the parents of two children who were badly burned when one of the company’s ovens fell on them, dousing them with hot noodles and causing severe injuries.  

The settlement was approved by U.S. District Court Judge Irene C. Berger on April 14, in federal court in West Virginia. The agreement came after multiple attempts by GE to have the lawsuit dismissed failed.

According to allegations raised in the lawsuit, the GE oven tipped over on New Years Eve in 2010, when one or both of the boys put weight on the door. As a result, boiling hot water from noodles cooking on the stove top spilled onto the boys.

Nathan was 21 months old at the time and suffered burns to nearly one-quart of his body, resulting in $70,000 in medical expenses. Patrick was three and was less injured, but also incurred about $5,000 worth of injuries.

The family alleged that the oven should have been sold with anti-tipping devices, which would have prevented the oven from falling over in such a situation.

GE tried to attack the language used in the complaint, arguing that it was poorly written enough to merit dismissal because it contained repetitive allegations, unnecessary prose and was overly detailed. However, Berger denied the motion, pointing out that the lawsuit was only 22 pages long, which was well within acceptable standards.

The $500,000 agreement will be paid by GE’s insurers, with $10,000 for the mother, Amanda Tharp and to cover attorney fees. The remaining $490,000 goes to compensate Nathan Tharp and Patrick Tharp for their injuries.