$1.9 million ecig injury jury award

[FlamingoTutu]

Thought DC2 was going to post this but don’t see anything. (Me thinks he’s getting even with me for making him start a different thread.)

Don’t know the back story or even the ecig involved. FWIW…

Jennifer Ries of Corona was on her way to the airport in March 2013 when she plugged in her VapCigs e-cigarette charger and it spewed hot metal that ignited her dress, attorney Gregory Bentley said.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/busin...577534-67d8-11e5-bdb6-6861f4521205_story.html

Jury awarded her $1.9 million. Guess we’ll hear more in the news tomorrow.

 

[Kent C]

How much do you want to bet that she wasn't using the charger from the pack, and wasn't using an adapter rated for what the charger can handle?

$1.9 million

 

[Lessifer]

I don't get it...the VapCigs (as in rhymes with cap? ) e-hookah looks like such a high quality product.

Hey, I started with a similar blister pack and had no issues. How much do you want to bet that she wasn't using the charger from the pack, and wasn't using an adapter rated for what the charger can handle? The worst thing about the cheap ecigs is, their charging cables are usb, and usb chargers are ubiquitous but not all the same.

Of course a jury can award money however they see fit, and what will likely result from this is a large warning on the package to only use the supplied charger, or something like that.

 

[AttyPops]

Dang. That must be one expensive designer dress.......

(Lawsuits. Pfffft. Tort Reform, anyone?)

 

[Kent C]

Don’t know the back story or even the ecig involved.

http://www.vapcigs.com/VapCigs_Rechargable_eHookah_Pen_eCigarette_p/hkbp.htm

The accident happened while the battery was charging and the couple was driving to Los Angeles International Airport to catch a flight to Brazil to help the non-governmental organization Passport 2 Freedom build a community center for children in the slums of Rio de Janeiro, according to the lawsuit.

"Xavier ... grabbed his iced coffee and threw it onto Jennifer," the lawsuit says. "The iced coffee extinguished the flames, but Jennifer sustained serious second-degree burns."

http://www.pe.com/articles/battery-782058-woman-cigarette.html

 

[Lessifer]

$1.9 million

That's actually not a huge amount for a personal injury case.

Also, this is a prime example of the fact that the vaping market is NOT completely unregulated. Consumer protections are there, they just work a little backwards in America.

 

[r77r7r]

How on earth did she have it on her lap with such a short corded charger?

Why would she have it on her lap if she wasn't using it?

 

[Jman8]

Let me know when such a lawsuit occurs outside of California and I'll be sure to pay attention to facts of the case. Thus far, I find they are absent.

 

[r77r7r]

How on earth did she have it on her lap with such a short corded charger?

Why would she have it on her lap if she wasn't using it?

I know now. She had maybe one of these ( shorter, more compact- but Wrong output)


Plugged in to something you naturally have in your lap-


Wrong charger plugged into a non-charging laptop? Even the right charger? Or, a tablet?

 

[Kent C]

News pieces at the time - 2013....

http://laist.com/2013/07/12/e-cigarette_battery_explodes_in_car.php

http://www.pe.com/articles/cigarette-678332-jennifer-ries.html

 

[AndriaD]

Wish somebody would redistribute some it my way.

Andria

 

[Steamix]

Considering the sheer number of lithium batteries that are powering mobile devices ( laptops, phones, tablets, etc., etc., and yes, vaping gear too ) all over the globe, it's bound to happen. Even if its only one in a million or one in a billion, it's not zero. But the chance that there's NOT some ambulance chaser around is exactly zero.

pursuit of happiness or is it per suit to happiness ?

Anyway ... let's be clear about one thing : The e-cigarette didn't go off - it was the battery mounted inside the e-cigarette.

Neither do laptops nor cellphones experience thermal runaway, the batteries installed in them do.

Of course, that little detail will be conveniently ignored by the many parties that want vaping to go away...

 

[AndriaD]

Considering the sheer number of lithium batteries that are powering mobile devices ( laptops, phones, tablets, etc., etc., and yes, vaping gear too ) all over the globe, it's bound to happen. Even if its only one in a million or one in a billion, it's not zero. But the chance that there's NOT some ambulance chaser around is exactly zero.

Shakespeare was a wise, wise man...

"First, let's kill all the lawyers." That would take out at least 3/4 of Wash DC in one swell foop.

Andria

 

[Lessifer]

What kind of hot metal could it have spewed?

 

[FlamingoTutu]

That's what I'd like to know. If the jury believed it was hot metal, sheesh. I'd like to know more, a lot more, before making a judgement.

 

[sofarsogood]

It's easy for juries to give a way other people's money. These large awards often diappear on appeal.

 

[Scottitude]

I don't get it...the VapCigs (as in rhymes with cap? ) e-hookah looks like such a high quality product.

 

[guambred]

I don't get it...the VapCigs (as in rhymes with cap? ) e-hookah looks like such a high quality product.

I suppose it was bound to happen with everyone and his brother trying to make a quick buck.... looks like for this company, easy come easy go. unfortunate ALL vapes will be lumped into the same group and "DANGER!!!!" will be bandied about. In the next few years we will live in those blister packs to avoid any injury............

 

[Steamix]

Well, been googling... listings about this one lawsuit is led and followed by law firms advertising their 'class action suits' against e-cig makers/vendors, spouting exactly the same nonsense that's been debunked ages ago. Well, anything to lure some patsies that can be paraded in front of a jury.

Is probablythe best evidence that vaping has arrived and i going strong. Lawyers aren't known for altruism, but rather for fleecing pockets that have some in it for fleecing

 

[Kent C]

. Lawyers aren't known for altruism, but rather for fleecing pockets that have some in it for fleecing

That might not be definitional, but it is an action of a lot of altruism - the redistribution of wealth.