Amazon Settles “Exploding” Lithium-Ion Battery Lawsuit
Amazon sells millions of products provided by third-party sellers every day. For years, the company has tried to claim that it is only a marketplace and, hence, it shouldn’t have to face product liability suits caused by third-party vendors. This argument has been successful in some courts, while failing in others. In many cases, Amazon has been forced to pay plaintiffs for peddling defective products. In this article, we’ll take a look at one lawsuit involving lithium-ion batteries that Amazon settled after having the motion to dismiss the lawsuit rejected.
Understanding the allegations
According to the lawsuit, Amazon sold defective lithium-ion batteries, the 18650 type specifically, that were prone to overheating, catching fire, and even exploding. These batteries were used in a variety of products, including laptops, power tools, and e-cigarettes. The lawsuit further alleged that the battery did not have the advertised energy capacity, and that Amazon was fully aware of these defects, yet concealed them from consumers while continuing to sell them. Customers left negative reviews on the site concerning these serious defects. Hence, the plaintiffs argued that Amazon was aware of the safety risks before it sold the batteries to customers.
The plaintiff’s arguments
According to the plaintiffs, Amazon violated consumer protection laws. Specifically, Amazon violated the Washington Consumer Protection Act. The lawsuit emphasized that Amazon was aware of the defect, partly because of negative reviews and safety concerns that were raised by customers.
Amazon’s defense
Amazon tried to dismiss the lawsuit by arguing that the plaintiffs failed to adequately allege who was responsible for the deception. The company also argued that the amount in controversy was too low for the case to be heard in federal court.
What injuries did the plaintiffs sustain?
The plaintiffs alleged that they sustained a wide variety of injuries, including:
- Third-degree burns – One woman purchased a replacement battery for her laptop from Amazon that subsequently exploded, causing her to suffer severe burns that required hospitalization for two weeks.
- Severe burns – One plaintiff alleged that they suffered severe burns to their arms, legs, and feet when a replacement laptop battery purchased from Amazon caught fire while the laptop was resting on their thighs.
- Burns to hands, legs, and buttocks – In another case, the plaintiff allegedly suffered burns to their arms, legs, and feet when their replacement battery caught fire while the laptop was resting on their thighs.
- Burns to lower extremities – Another plaintiff suffered second and third-degree burns on their right thigh after a lithium-ion battery exploded in their pocket.
- Inhalation injuries – Toxic fumes from defective battery fires can cause severe damage to the lungs.
- Property damage – Exploding batteries have also caused significant property damage, including house fires.
The outcome of the lawsuit
Amazon ultimately settled with the plaintiffs in this class action lawsuit. As a result of the settlement, the claims brought by the consumers were dismissed with prejudice. In other words, the case can no longer be filed against Amazon since it was settled. There is no publicly available information related to the settlement since the terms were never officially disclosed.
Talk to a Defective Lithium-Ion Battery Lawyer Today
Halpern, Santos & Pinkert represent the interests of plaintiffs in lawsuits filed against negligent companies, such as Amazon. Call our Florida personal injury lawyers today to schedule an appointment, and we can begin investigating your case right away.
Source:
topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/lawsuit-news/amazon-class-action-lawsuit-and-settlement-news/judge-denies-amazons-request-to-dismiss-defective-lithium-ion-battery-class-action-2/#:~:text=Update:,who%20was%20responsible%20for%20it.
