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

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

A Missouri man indicates in a recently filed product liability lawsuit that 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, indicating that he was injured when a Sensio Cruz 8-quart electric pressure cooker exploded in late 2020, after the lid detached without warning while the hot contents were still pressurized.

The Sensio pressure cooker that Hayes was using at the time of his injury was one of nearly 900,000 devices recalled several years later, in August 2023, at which time the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) indicated that the manufacturer was aware of at least 61 incidents where consumers suffered burn injuries, some involving second and third degree burns.

The Sensio pressure cooker recall warned that defects associated with the device may allow the lid to be unlocked and removed while it was still under pressure, causing boiling hot contents to forcefully spray onto consumers which is nearly identical to the explosion described by Hayes in his lawsuit.

Sensio is one of several manufacturers now facing pressure cooker lawsuits involving similar incidents, each raising allegations that the safety features marketed to consumers were defective and failed to work, resulting in severe injuries.

According to the lawsuit filed by Hayes, the sudden Sensio pressure cooker explosion caused scalding hot liquid and steam to erupt from the cooker, resulting in severe burns to his face, torso and arms. The injuries reportedly led to permanent scarring and disfigurement.

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

The Sensio pressure cooker lawsuit 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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