Vape Battery Explosion Caused Severe Burns, Lawsuit Alleges

Growing number of e-cigarette lawsuits claim defective vape battery designs and low-quality components have caused dangerous explosions that left consumers with serious injuries.

A Pennsylvania man has filed a product liability lawsuit alleging that a defective Imren 18650 lithium-ion battery used in an electronic cigarette suddenly exploded in his pocket, causing him to suffer severe burn injuries and permanent disfigurement.

The complaint (PDF) was brought by Gregory Matthew Travis Townsend in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Nevada on March 12, naming Magma Holding Inc., doing business as EightVape, as well as other unnamed entities involved in the design, manufacture and distribution of the vaping device and battery as defendants.

Electronic cigarettes, commonly known as e-cigarettes or vape devices, are battery-powered products that heat liquid solutions into an aerosol for inhalation. Most devices rely on rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, which can store large amounts of energy in compact cells.

However, many e-cigarette lithium-ion batteries are poorly manufactured or lack adequate safety protections, leaving them susceptible to a condition known as thermal runaway, where the battery rapidly overheats and can ignite or explode. These failures can occur during normal use, while charging or even when the battery is simply carried in a pocket, exposing users to severe injuries such as burns, facial injuries and damage to the hands.

As incidents involving exploding vape batteries have increased, a growing number of e-cigarette battery lawsuits have been filed against manufacturers, with plaintiffs alleging that defective designs and low-quality components allowed these dangerous failures to occur and caused preventable injuries to consumers.

According to Townsend’s lawsuit, the incident occurred on or about March 15, 2024, as he was carrying a vape battery in his front right pants pocket when the device suddenly failed, exploding and igniting nearby materials. The complaint states the blast produced intense heat and flames, causing serious burns to multiple areas of his body, requiring emergency medical treatment and resulting in permanent scarring and ongoing pain.

The complaint alleges the battery was defectively designed and lacked adequate safety features to prevent thermal runaway. Townsend claims the battery was also packaged and sold in a manner that failed to prevent short-circuiting, rapid discharge and overheating that can lead to catastrophic failure.

He indicates the defendants failed to properly warn consumers about the risk that the battery could suddenly explode during normal handling or storage. He also maintains that safer alternative designs and clearer warnings could have prevented the incident.

“As a direct and proximate result of the Defendants’ collective conduct and misrepresentations concerning the safety and efficacy of the Subject Battery, Plaintiff has incurred significant and painful bodily injuries, physical pain, mental anguish, and diminished enjoyment of life.”

— Gregory Matthew Travis Townsend v. Magma Holding Inc. et al

The lawsuit raises allegations of strict products liability, defective design, failure to warn, negligence and breach of implied warranty. It seeks general and special damages for medical expenses, pain and suffering, permanent injury, mental anguish, fear, anxiety, loss of enjoyment of life and lost wages.

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