Philippe Richard Pressure Cooker Exploded During Normal Use, Causing Serious Burns: Lawsuit

A Texas woman suffered serious and substantial burn injuries after her Philippe Richard pressure cooker exploded, indicating in a recently filed lawsuit that the lid suddenly and unexpectedly blew off during normal use of the device, causing scalding hot contents to be forcefully ejected onto her.

Criselda Chavez filed the complaint (PDF) on November 28, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, presenting product liability claims against Tabletop Unlimited (TTU), Inc. as the defendant.

The case raises allegations similar to those presented in a growing number of pressure cooker explosion lawsuits filed in recent months, each pointing to similar safety failures associated with modern electronic pressure cookers marketed by various different companies, including Instant Pot, Crock Pot, Ninja Foodi and others.

Chavez indicates she was using her Philippe Richard pressure cooker for its intended purpose of preparing meals for her family, and did so in a manner that was reasonable and foreseeable by the manufacturers. However, as a result of a defective and negligent desight, the pressure cooker failed to prevent the lid from coming off while the contents were still pressurized, despite the appearance that all of the pressure had been released and marketing statements that suggested could not happen.

“While the pressure cooker was in use for cooking, the pressure cooker’s lit unexpectedly and suddenly blew off the pot in an explosive manner,” according to the complaint. “The contents of the pressure cooker were forcefully ejected out of the pot and onto Plaintiff, causing severe, disfiguring burns to her face, chest and all four extremities.”

The lawsuit indicates the manufacturers representations about the safety Philippe Richard pressure cookers was not only misleading, but flatly wrong, putting innocent consumers in harm’s way due to an unreasonably dangerous design.

Chavez presents claims for strict product liability, negligent product liability and breach of warranty.

Pressure Cooker Explosion Lawsuits

Modern electronic pressure cookers have become increasingly popular in recent decades, amid marketing that promotes advanced safety features which are supposed to prevent pressure cooker explosions that have plagued older, stove-top designs. Products have been marketed under a number of brand names, through social media, websites and home shopping stations.

Most of the problems involve similar pressure cooker burn injuries which occurred after the lid was removed while the contents were still under high pressure, typically resulting in burns covering a large percentage of the user’s body. However, other injuries linked to pressure cookers have included eye injuries, broken bones and other complications that resulted from electrocutions, spills or explosions.

As more of these electric pressure cookers have been introduced in recent years, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued several pressure cooker recalls over problems where lids were able to be opened while contents are under pressure, allowing hot contents to be expelled and causing a scald or burn injury to individuals in the immediate area.