Lawsuit Alleges Ninja Blender Packaging Allowed Unsecured Blade Assembly To Cause Severe Foot Injury

Illinois woman alleges an unsecured blade assembly fell from the blender box as she opened it, striking her foot and severely lacerating her toe.

While multiple blender laceration lawsuits have been filed in recent months over blades allegedly detaching during use, a newly filed complaint claims a Ninja blender blade caused a severe injury before the appliance was ever removed from its packaging.

The complaint (PDF) was brought by Angelina Beck in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on July 27, naming SharkNinja Operating LLC as the sole defendant.

According to the lawsuit, the blade was not adequately secured or contained inside the packaging, allowing the sharp component to fall without warning when the box was opened. Beck claims SharkNinja knew or should have known the packaging created an unreasonable risk that consumers could be cut while unpacking the appliance.

The lawsuit alleges the company failed to properly package, restrain or warn about the loose blade assembly, resulting in a severe toe laceration and related injuries.

SharkNinja Kitchen Appliance Lawsuits

In recent years, SharkNinja has faced a series of product liability lawsuits involving injuries allegedly caused defectively designed kitchen appliances, including blenders and pressure cookers.

Several recent blender lawsuits have focused on allegations that blade assemblies separated from their bases while the appliances were being used or cleaned. Earlier this month, a Texas woman filed a similar claim alleging a Ninja blender blade detached during use and caused severe laceration injuries.

SharkNinja also faces separate claims involving Ninja Foodi pressure cookers, which plaintiffs allege can open while still pressurized and release scalding food and liquid. Last year, the company recalled nearly two million pressure cookers because of concerns that the lids could be opened during use.

Similar pressure cooker explosion lawsuits have been filed against the manufacturers of Instant Pot, Crock-Pot and other brands. Many of those claims allege defective lid-locking systems failed to prevent users from opening the appliances before internal pressure had been safely released, resulting in severe and potentially permanent burn injuries.

Ninja Blender Lawsuit Allegations

In her lawsuit, Beck indicates she purchased the Ninja Professional Plus Blender, identified as a Model BN Series 30, on August 4, 2024. The product consists of a motor base, a pitcher that locks onto the base and a stacked blade assembly containing six sharp blades that is dropped onto the gear shaft.

According to the complaint, Beck was removing the blender pitcher from the box when the unsecured blade assembly fell out and lacerated her foot. She maintains she had not misused or materially altered the product and was handling it in a reasonable and foreseeable manner.

The lawsuit indicates the blender blade packaging consists only of a thin plastic covering, with no additional safeguards to prevent consumers from coming into contact with the blades while unpacking the product. Beck argues safer and economically feasible packaging, such as a simple cardboard covering, could have prevented her injuries.

Beck also claims SharkNinja failed to conduct an adequate failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) to evaluate the safety of its blenders and packaging. The complaint maintains the company knew or should have known the blade assemblies were not properly secured but continued marketing and selling the products.

In addition, the lawsuit alleges SharkNinja failed to provide adequate warnings and instructions regarding the danger and failed to report incidents of injuries as required by the Consumer Product Safety Act.

“Plaintiff attempted to use her Ninja blender for its intended purpose of preparing meals and drinks for herself and/or her family and did so in a manner that was reasonable and foreseeable by Defendant. However, the aforementioned Ninja blender was defectively designed and manufactured by Defendant in that its loose, unsecured blade assembly was improperly packaged.”

— Angelina Beck v. SharkNinja Operating LLC

The lawsuit raises allegations of strict liability, negligent design defect, negligence, breach of implied warranty of fitness for a particular purpose and breach of implied warranty of merchantability. It seeks compensation for significant and painful bodily injury, medical expenses, loss of wages, mental anguish and diminished enjoyment of life.

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