In December 2024, a Colorado jury awarded $55.5 million to Georgina Perez, who suffered severe burn injuries from a defective Crock-Pot Express Multi-Cooker manufactured by Sunbeam Products, Inc., a subsidiary of Newell Brands.
Product Liability Case Background
In June 2019, Perez was using the Crock-Pot Express Multi-Cooker (Model SCCPPC600V1) to prepare beans. After following the manual’s instructions and waiting approximately 20 minutes post-cooking, the device malfunctioned and exploded, causing her significant injuries.
Legal Proceedings for Defective Crock-Pot
Perez filed a product liability lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado (Case No. 1:21-cv-01915) against Sunbeam Products, Newell Brands, and Target Corporation, alleging design and manufacturing defects, failure to warn, negligence, and breaches of implied and express warranties. She contended that the companies were aware of the product’s defects but failed to act, violating the Colorado Consumer Protection Act.
Jury Verdict
The jury found Sunbeam and Newell Brands 90% responsible for Perez’s injuries. The compensation included $3.5 million for noneconomic damages, $2 million for physical impairment, and $50 million in punitive damages—$15 million against Sunbeam and $35 million against Newell Brands.
Crock-Pot Product Recall
In November 2020, Sunbeam recalled nearly 1 million Crock-Pot Express Crock Multi-Cookers due to burn hazards, acknowledging reports of lids detaching during use, leading to hot food and liquid expulsion.
Legal Implications
Georgina P.’s experience is a tragic example of what can happen when a product fails to meet basic safety standards. Suffering second- and third-degree burns over a significant portion of her body due to an exploding Crock-Pot Express Crock Multi-Cooker is a devastating outcome for what should have been a routine cooking process. The fact that similar incidents had been reported as early as 2017 and a recall was issued in 2020 raises serious questions about the manufacturer’s knowledge of the defect and the timeliness of their response.
From a product liability standpoint, this case touches on several key legal principles:
Failure to Warn: Manufacturers have a legal duty to provide adequate warnings about potential hazards associated with their products. In this case, the adequacy of the warnings regarding pressure release and safe operation was likely a central issue.
Design Defect: The lawsuit alleged a design flaw that allowed the lid of the multi-cooker to open while still under pressure, creating a dangerous explosion hazard. This points to a fundamental problem with the product’s engineering and safety mechanisms.
Manufacturing Defect: Even if the design was sound, a manufacturing defect could have introduced flaws during the production process, leading to individual units malfunctioning.
Contact Our Product Liability Attorneys Today
Casper, Meadows, Schwartz & Cook is currently hearing from people who were injured by Crock-Pots that have caused serious injuries, such as suffering painful burns nationwide. If this happened to you, then you might be owed significant compensation for a variety of damages like medical treatment costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering. We prioritize providing clients with personalized attention and can listen carefully to understand your unique situation, utilize our resources to investigate your case, and much more. Contact us today for a free consultation.