Products Liability Law Reporter

Caridad Fernandez Reinaldo was using a stove-top Vasconia Pressure Cooker when the ingredients inside the appliance began to escape the pressure cooker, releasing hot cooking liquid. When Reinaldo attempted to remove the pressure cooker from the stove top, the top of the device came off, and hot cooking liquid exploded out, scalding Reinaldo’s three-year-old granddaughter, Doe. She suffered severe burns on her chest, necessitating a year-long hospitalization. During that time, she developed infections, which necessitated amputations of her right leg, parts of both hands, and her left foot. Doe’s medical expenses exceeded $1 million.

Doe’s parents, on her behalf, sued Lifetime Brands, Inc., which imported and distributed the pressure cooker, alleging it lacked a safe lid-locking mechanism. The plaintiff asserted that the defendant used a wrong-sized part in its locking handle, which prevented the lid from locking fully. Suit also alleged that Riverland Hardware, Inc., was liable for selling the family an incorrect replacement gasket.

The defense argued that Reinaldo had not operated the pressure cooker properly.

The parties settled for $27 million. Lifetime Brands paid $26 million, and Riverland Hardware paid the rest.

Citation: Doe v. Lifetime Brands, Inc., No. 16-016685 (21) (Fla. Cir. Ct. Broward Cnty. Nov. 6, 2018).

Plaintiff counsel: AAJ member John Uustal, Michael Hersh, and AAJ member Catherine Darlson, all of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.