E-Cigarette Explosion Victim Wins $2.3M

E-Cigarette Explosion Victim Wins $2.3M

Introduction

A jury in this case has granted a man $2.3 million in damages following an incident in which an electronic cigarette battery exploded in his mouth, resulting in broken teeth, a fractured jaw, and a burned hand.

During a four-day trial, the man's attorneys argued that e-cigarette distributor Lightfire Holdings LLC provided customers with a potentially dangerous product, likening it to a "tiny pipe bomb" due to its powerful, unprotected lithium-ion battery. They claimed that the company failed to adequately warn customers about the associated risks.

The plaintiff's attorney drew a comparison, stating that it's like being handed a brick of C-4 and being told it's harmless Play-Doh. The volatile and highly energetic nature of the product was not apparent to users.

Lightfire Holdings, based in Florida, did not respond to requests for comment, but the company contended in legal filings that it should not be held responsible for the injuries suffered by the plaintiff.

Electronic cigarettes, introduced in 2007, were initially marketed as a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes. Sales surged from around $20 million in 2008 to $2.5 billion in 2012, with predictions that the industry would eventually surpass the tobacco sector, according to the plaintiff's lawsuit.

These devices operate by using a battery-powered heating element to vaporize a liquid contained in a tank, allowing users to inhale vapor and nicotine. Many of these devices utilize powerful, rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, which are also used in cellphones, laptops, electric cars, and various electronic devices.

Overheating of such batteries can lead to "thermal runaway," resulting in explosions, fires, or severe injuries. In the case of e-cigarettes, the plaintiff's attorneys argued that this phenomenon could cause the device's battery to shoot out like a projectile.

Unlike most devices that use lithium-ion batteries, the Tobeco Super Tank Mini e-cigarette purchased by the plaintiff at a St. Louis-area vape shop did not have adequate safeguards, according to his lawsuit, which was recommended by an employee.

The plaintiff experienced the explosion while sitting on his couch in 2017, resulting in injuries across his body. He sought medical attention, was transported to Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, and underwent oral and hand surgery, along with stitches in his arm. He now has permanent scars and nerve damage.

The plaintiff's attorney argued that it was a relatively common practice for sellers to distribute devices without proper safeguards. They presented expert testimony about the devices' dangers and the responsibility of companies to inform consumers of the risks, however rare.

Federal regulators have since imposed safety measures for vaping devices, but the attorney argued that injuries should not have been necessary for manufacturers to implement these changes.

The St. Charles County jury issued a verdict of $352,000 in compensatory damages in addition to $2 million in punitive damages.