Ninja Blender Lawsuit Alleges Plastic Container Exploded, Causing Pieces To Strike Woman in Eye

Michigan woman is pursuing $3.75 million in damages, alleging that a defectively designed Ninja blender exploded and caused her injuries.

A product liability lawsuit filed by a Michigan woman claims that a Ninja blender exploded during use, causing severe injuries to her left eye, resulting in near-total vision loss.

The complaint (PDF) was brought by Suzanne Dobry in Michigan state court in November 2024, and was removed to federal court (PDF) on January 6, by SharkNinja Operating LLC, the manufacturer of Ninja Blenders, who was named as the defendant.

According to the lawsuit, Dobry purchased a Ninja Blender in 2021 from Bed, Bath & Beyond in Sterling Heights, Michigan. However, in November 2023, while using the appliance to blend shelled walnuts for batlawa, the plastic blender container exploded.

Dobry claims that the exploding Ninja blender showered her with plastic debris, with one piece striking her left eye and causing severe damage that resulted in permanent injury and near-total vision loss in that eye.

“The subject product, specifically the subject BL642 Ninja blender, was not reasonably safe in its design, manufacture, and/or adequate warnings at the time it left the control of the Defendant SharkNinja,” the lawsuit states. “At the time the product left the control of Defendant SharkNinja, a technically feasible alternative product was available that would have prevented the harm caused to the Plaintiff without significantly impairing the usefulness or desirability of the product to users, and without creating equal or greater risk of harm to others.”

Dobry presents claims of product liability, negligence, negligent design and manufacture, failure to warn and breach of warranty. She is seeking $3.75 million in damages.

On January 6, SharkNinja removed the case to federal court in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan based on diversity jurisdiction. SharkNinja is headquartered in Delaware.

The lawsuit is among many filed against the manufacturer, alleging defects in the design of its kitchen appliances. However, most of the lawsuits have been filed over its Ninja Foodi pressure cooker, which plaintiffs say is prone to pressure cooker explosions due to a lack of sufficient safety measures.

SharkNinja is one of many appliance manufacturers facing pressure cooker lawsuits, in which plaintiffs say the lids were able to be opened while the contents were under pressure, allowing hot contents to be expelled and cause scalding or burn injuries to individuals in the immediate area.