Bennett Fields vs.  South Georgia Vapor, LLC, et al

Case Background

On January 31, 2019, Plaintiff  Bennett Fields filed a product liability lawsuit in the Circuit Court of Leon County, 2nd Judicial Circuit, Florida (Case number: 2019-CA-000236). Judge Charles A. Francis presided over this case.

Cause

The product liability lawsuit stemmed from an incident on October 24, 2018. On that day, Plaintiff Fields purchased a HexOhm “box mod” from Good Life Vapor at its Americus, Georgia, store. Defendant Craving Vapor manufactured the box mod. Additionally, Plaintiff bought rechargeable lithium-ion batteries from South Georgia Vapor at its Tallahassee, Florida, location. These batteries were represented as being manufactured by Samsung and intended for use with an e-cigarette.

Plaintiff Fields walked from his home to meet a friend at a restaurant on the day of the incident. He kept the box mod, containing two charged lithium-ion batteries, in his left front pants pocket. As Plaintiff reached the end of his driveway, one or both of the lithium-ion batteries exploded. The explosion caused the back of the box mod to detach, ejecting both batteries. The vented flames ignited Plaintiff’s pants, causing severe burns to his lower body.

Injuries

The explosion and subsequent fire caused Plaintiff Bennett Fields significant injuries. The flames severely burned his lower body, leaving extensive damage to his skin. He required immediate medical attention, including surgeries, pain management, and long-term rehabilitation. The injuries not only caused physical suffering but also left Plaintiff with emotional and psychological scars. The explosion and fire altered his quality of life in profound ways.

Damages

As a result of the explosion, Plaintiff Fields incurred substantial medical expenses. These included hospitalization, surgeries, pain treatments, and rehabilitation. Beyond the physical harm, Plaintiff endured considerable emotional distress due to the injuries. The incident also impaired his ability to lead a normal life. The damages sought by Plaintiff reflect the severity of the explosion, the defective lithium-ion batteries, and the malfunctioning e-cigarette product.

Key Arguments and Proceedings

Legal representation

  • Plaintiff(s): Bennett Fields
    • Counsel for Plaintiff: Michael G. Haire, Jr. | Chris Moore | Will Lewis
  • Defendant(s): Good Life Vapor | Craving Vapor Industries, LLC | Samsung SDI America | Samsung SDI Co., Ltd. | South Georgia Vapor, LLC
    • Counsel for Defendants: N/A

Claims

Plaintiff Bennett Fields filed strict products liability claims against all the defendants involved in the manufacturing, sale, and distribution of the box mod and lithium-ion batteries. He also brought a breach of warranty claim against South Georgia Vapor and Good Life Vapor for misrepresenting the safety of the lithium-ion batteries. Initially, Plaintiff dropped his claim against Craving Vapor, LLC, and settled claims against Good Life Vapor and Craving Vapor Industries, LLC. Additionally, the court dismissed Samsung SDI America for lack of personal jurisdiction. After a ruling by the First District Court of Appeal, it also dismissed Samsung SDI Co., Ltd., a South Korean company, for the same reason. In this case, Plaintiff sought justice for injuries caused by defective products, including a malfunctioning e-cigarette box mod and faulty lithium-ion batteries.

Defense

South Georgia Vapor, the remaining defendant in the case, denied all allegations brought by Plaintiff Bennett Fields in a product liability case. Despite the denial, the company’s counsel withdrew from the case on December 8, 2023. South Georgia Vapor did not secure new counsel, leading the court to enter an order of default on July 17, 2024. This default was due to the company’s failure to participate in the proceedings. Plaintiff contended that by failing to respond, South Georgia Vapor admitted that the lithium-ion batteries were not intended for use in vaping devices. Additionally, Plaintiff argued that South Georgia Vapor demonstrated gross negligence and recklessness regarding the safety of its products, including the faulty lithium-ion batterie

Jury Verdict

On July 29, 2024, the jury awarded Plaintiff Bennett Fields $10,000,000 in damages. The award included $7,000,000 in compensatory damages for the severe injuries caused by the explosion and fire from the defective lithium-ion batteries. The jury also granted $3,000,000 in punitive damages, finding that South Georgia Vapor acted recklessly and with gross negligence in a product liability lawsuit.

Court Documents:

Documents are available for purchase upon request at jurimatic@exlitem.com