Walmart Farberware Pressure Cooker Lawsuit Alleges Defective Lid Caused Severe Burns

Manufacturer failed to improve the Farberware pressure cooker safety features despite Walmart receiving reports of explosions and burns, lawsuit claims

After suffering severe burns, an Illinois man has filed a lawsuit alleging Farberware pressure cooker design defects allowed him to open the lid while the unit was still pressurized, causing scalding hot food and liquid to erupt onto him.

The complaint (PDF) was filed by Dawntavius Shamon Walker in the U.S. District Court of Illinois on June 30, naming Walmart, Inc. as the defendant, the manufacturer and seller of the device.

The Farberware 7-in-1 pressure cooker is an electric kitchen appliance sub-licensed and exclusively sold by Walmart, It is designed to cook food rapidly using high pressure. Walmart advertises that the device features a safety locking mechanism on the lid to “prevent the cooker from opening while pressurized.” However, Walker’s lawsuit states those safety claims failed, resulting in severe injuries.

Pressure Cooker Explosion Risks

In recent years, several major kitchen electronic manufacturers have come under fire for similar design defects affecting electric pressure cookers. The design defects have affected brands such as Instant Pot, Ninja, Crock Pot and others.

Hundreds of burn injuries have been reported by consumers after electric pressure cooker safety lid features have failed, causing burns and other injuries to users.

As a result, pressure cooker lawsuits have been filed by injured users nationwide, each citing failures with safety mechanisms that failed to prevent the lid from being removed while the contents were under pressure, leading to explosions, burn injuries and disfigurement.

Farberware Pressure Cooker Injury Allegations

Walker’s complaint alleges he was using the Farberware pressure cooker on August 1, 2024, when the safety lock mechanism failed to work. He was able to open the lid while the device was still pressurized, resulting in a pressure cooker explosion that caused first and second-degree burn injuries to the abdomen, as well as permanent scarring.

The lawsuit alleges that despite the advertisements indicating the pressure cooker was equipped with “important safeguards” to prevent the lid from unlocking while the cooker is pressurized, the lid was able to be removed during use. Walker indicates the failure of the design led to his severe injuries.

The complaint suggests Walmart knew or should have known about the design defect since dozens of complaints have been made by consumers who suffered similar incidents and injuries. Yet, Walmart put profit over safety and continued to sell the product, according to Walker’s claims.

He accuses Walmart of failing to warn consumers of the risks the cooker posed and of failing to issue a recall to prevent additional user injuries.

“Defendant Walmart failed to properly market, design, manufacture, distribute, supply, and sell the pressure cookers, despite having extensive knowledge that the aforementioned injuries could and did occur.”

Dawntavius Shamon Walker v. Walmart, Inc.

The complaint raises allegations of strict liability, negligence, and breach of implied warranty of merchantability. Walker seeks damages for bodily injuries, medical expenses, physical pain, mental anguish, and diminished enjoyment of life.