Sensio Pressure Cooker Lawsuit Claims Man Suffered Permanent Disfigurement After Device Malfunctioned

The pressure cooker linked to the incident was included in a Sensio recall in 2023, following reports of injuries from safety feature failures and explosions.

A Missouri man says he suffered severe burn injuries due to Sensio’s “willful and reckless disregard for consumer safety” in the design of its pressure cookers.

The complaint (PDF) was filed by James Hayes in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri on December 1, naming Sensio Inc., doing business as Made By Gather, Crux Kitchen LLC, and 8479950 Canada Inc., as the defendant.

In August 2023, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced a Sensio pressure cooker recall, affecting nearly 900,000 electric and stovetop pressure cookers, after 61 reports of burn injuries, some involving second and third-degree burns. The recall warned that the products’ lids could be unlocked and removed while the devices were still pressurized, causing hot contents to forcefully spray onto consumers.

As a result of this recall and a number of others, Sensio and similar manufacturers face numerous pressure cooker lawsuits filed throughout the U.S., all raising similar allegations that the safety features marketed to consumers were defective and failed to work, resulting in severe injuries.

According to the lawsuit, Hayes was injured in December 2020 while using a Sensio Crux 8-quart electric pressure cooker, when the lid allegedly detached without warning while the contents remained under pressure.

The sudden release caused scalding hot liquid and steam to erupt from the cooker, resulting in severe burns to Hayes’ face, torso and arms. The injuries reportedly led to permanent scarring and disfigurement.

The complaint notes that the same model was later recalled in 2023 due to similar risks of the lid detaching while the unit was still pressurized. Hayes alleges the manufacturer misrepresented the safety of the pressure cooker and was aware of the defect before his injuries occurred.

“Plaintiff further alleges that Defendants knew or should have known of the product’s defects and failed to take appropriate action to protect consumers, thereby demonstrating a willful and reckless disregard for consumer safety.”

– James Hayes v. Sensio Inc. et al

Hayes presents claims of strict products liability, failure to warn, negligence and willful, wanton and reckless conduct.

Pressure Cooker Lawsuits

The CPSC has announced multiple recalls in recent years over pressure cooker explosion risks, like those linked to Sensio products. Many of these recalls were for similar problems, where defective designs have allowed lids to be opened while the contents are still pressurized, causing burning hot food and liquid to spray out and injure nearby users.

In 2023, the same year as the Sensio recall, nearly one million Best Buy Insignia pressure cookers were also recalled due to lid safety failures linked to explosion incidents.

Consumers injured by similar defects involving brands such as Sensio, Instant Pot, Crock-Pot, Ninja Foodi and others may be entitled to financial compensation. Pressure cooker injury attorneys are offering free case evaluations to help individuals determine whether they qualify to file a lawsuit.

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