Judge Upholds $9M Crock-Pot Pressure Cooker Lawsuit Verdict

Federal judge ruled that the jury was not likely influenced or unfairly swayed by images of other pressure cooker burn victims or a video showing a Crock-Pot exploding during testing.

An appeal by Sunbeam and Newell Brands to overturn a $9 million verdict linked to a Crock-Pot pressure cooker explosion was rejected on multiple grounds by a federal judge in Colorado, who determined that the jury had the legal right and reason to decide against the manufacturers.

Georgina Perez first filed the complaint against Sunbeam Products, Newell Brands Inc. and Target Corporation in June 2023, about four years after she suffered burn injuries when her Crock-Pot Express Multi-Cooker exploded, allowing hot, pressurized contents to escape. Perez claims the product’s safety features were falsely marketed as preventing this type of accident.

The accident left Perez with pressure cooker burn injuries over 13% of her body, resulting in the need for expensive skin grafts. The explosion also damaged her sweat glands, causing difficulties in regulating her body temperature.

Perez’s case went to trial in December 2024, resulting in a $55.5 million verdict, which was later reduced to $9 million after punitive damages were lowered due to Colorado’s cap on non-economic damages.

The claim was just one of a continuing number of pressure cooker lawsuits being pursued nationwide over similar explosions affecting a variety of pressure cookers, including Instant Pots and Ninja Foodi devices. Each of the lawsuits allege that the manufacturers made false and misleading marketing statements and sold products with dangerous design defects, including lids that can be removed while the contents are still under pressure, making the devices unsafe.

Crock-Pot Verdict Upheld

Sunbeam and Newell appealed the Perez verdict, alleging that Perez’s attorneys wrongfully showed pictures of other pressure cooker burn victims to the jury, potentially prejudicing them against the manufacturers. They also argued that the jury was given inaccurate information about how much the companies profited from the devices.

However, U.S. District Judge Philip A. Brimmer in the District of Colorado issued an order (PDF) on March 31, rejecting the manufacturers’ appeal and calls for a new trial, while upholding the $9 million verdict.

Judge Brimmer indicated that the disputed evidence was shown during opening and closing arguments, and the jury was instructed not to weigh that information as evidence in the case.

“The Court finds that displaying the photographs of other individuals who were allegedly injured by using the multicooker during opening and closing did not affect defendants’ substantial rights such that, without displaying these photographs, the jury would have reached a contrary result.”

– U.S. District Judge Philip A. Brimmer

During the trial, the jury was also shown a video of product testing for the Crock-Pot that showed the lid exploding off the pressure cooker. Defendants protested the use of this video, which Judge Brimmer agreed was improperly shown, but determined that it also probably failed to influence the jury one way or another.

He concluded that a reasonable jury still could have reached the same verdict regardless of these complaints and denied the motion for a new trial.

Pressure Cooker Lawsuits

Following numerous allegations like those of Perez, pressure cooker injury attorneys continue to investigate potential claims on behalf of individuals who have suffered burns and other injuries from pressure cooker explosions or malfunctions. These investigations focus on whether manufacturers failed to properly design, test or provide adequate warnings about the risk of explosions.

In recent years, recalls have been issued for more than one million Best Buy Insignia pressure cookers, as well as about 900,000 Sensio pressure cooker units, due to lid defects that fail to prevent them from being removed while the contents are under pressure.

Compensation may be available for individuals who suffered pressure cooker explosion and burn injuries, including second- and third-degree burns, permanent scarring and long-term physical and emotional consequences.

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