Georgina Perez vs. Sunbeam Products, Inc. et al

Case Background

On July 14, 2021, Georgina Perez filed a product liability lawsuit in the United States District Court of Colorado (Case number: 1:21cv1915) against Sunbeam Products, Inc., Newell Brands, Inc., and Target Corporation. The lawsuit arose from burn injuries Perez sustained while using a defective pressure cooker, specifically the Crock-Pot Express Multi-Cooker. Perez claims that the multi-cooker was defectively designed and manufactured, leading to a dangerous malfunction that caused severe harm. This case was assigned to Chief Judge Philip A. Brimmer and referred to Magistrate Judge Kathryn A. Starnella.

Cause

On June 3, 2019, Georgina Perez suffered catastrophic injuries while using a defective Crock-Pot Express Multi-Cooker, model SCCPPC600V1, purchased from a Target store in Glendale, Colorado. Perez followed the product manual’s instructions to prepare beans in the multi-cooker. After the cooking process was complete, she waited approximately 20 minutes, as directed, before attempting to release the pressure. However, when she touched the multi-cooker, it malfunctioned and exploded violently. Scalding hot beans and liquid sprayed onto her face, chest, and upper body, even reaching the ceiling and surrounding kitchen area. This explosion occurred despite Perez’s strict adherence to the manufacturer’s instructions for safe use of the pressure cooker.

The explosion caused severe burns, leading to Perez being rushed to Swedish Medical Center for emergency treatment. Medical professionals later confirmed that the explosion resulted from defects in the multi-cooker, which was manufactured and marketed by Sunbeam Products, Inc., Newell Brands, Inc., and sold by Target Corporation.

Injuries

Perez sustained second-degree burns to her face, chest, abdomen, shoulders, and arms, as well as third-degree full-thickness burns to her breasts. Medical specialists performed eight amniotic skin grafts on her face and thirteen cadaveric skin grafts on her neck, arms, breasts, chest, and abdomen, covering a total of 5.3 square feet of burned tissue. Her injuries required surgical debridement and electrocautery to remove damaged skin and tissue.

The burns left Perez with permanent scars and disfigurement. She also experienced significant discomfort, including tingling, a loss of sensation in her lips and mouth, and severe itching in the affected areas. Due to damage to her sweat glands, she suffered from permanent impairments in her ability to regulate body temperature. These burn injuries also caused significant emotional and psychological distress, including feelings of embarrassment, humiliation, and diminished self-esteem.

Damages

The physical and emotional toll of the defective pressure cooker explosion severely impacted Perez’s life. She incurred substantial medical expenses for her surgeries, hospital stays, and follow-up care.  The permanent disfigurement and physical limitations have affected her daily activities, social interactions, and overall quality of life. Perez continues to suffer from chronic pain, emotional distress, and functional impairments that prevent her from fully resuming her previous lifestyle.

Perez sought compensation for her past and future medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and permanent physical impairment. Her claims also included requests for punitive damages to hold the defendants accountable for their actions and to deter similar conduct in the future in a Product liability lawsuit.

Key Arguments and Proceedings

Legal representation

  • Plaintiff(s): Georgina Perez
    • Counsel for Plaintiff: Hannah E. Huston | Holly Baer Kammerer | Michael S. Burg | Peter A. Gibbins | Shane C. Fulton
  • Defendant(s): Sunbeam Products, Inc. doing business as Jarden Solutions| Newell Brands, Inc.
    • Counsel for Defendants: David John O’Connell | Conor P. Boyle

Claims

Perez filed a lawsuit against Sunbeam Products, Inc., and Newell Brands, Inc. She held them accountable for their roles in the design, manufacture, and sale of the defective pressure cooker. Perez asserted claims for product liability based on design and manufacturing defects, failure to warn, and negligence. She alleged that the companies were aware of the defects in the Crock-Pot Express Multi-Cooker. Despite this knowledge, they failed to take timely action to protect consumers.

Perez also pursued claims for breach of implied and express warranties. She argued that the defendants falsely represented the product as safe when it was, in fact, defective and dangerous. Furthermore, Perez claimed violations of the Colorado Consumer Protection Act. She asserted that the defendants engaged in deceptive trade practices by continuing to market and sell the defective product. This occurred despite receiving reports of similar incidents and injuries.

Defense

The defendants, Sunbeam Products, Inc., and Newell Brands, Inc., denied liability for the burn injuries suffered by Georgina Perez. They argued that the Crock-Pot Express Multi-Cooker was not defective and asserted that Perez’s injuries did not result from any design or manufacturing defect in the product. The defendants maintained that they followed all applicable safety and manufacturing standards.  They denied knowing of any defect when they marketed the product and claimed they were not responsible for failing to warn consumers.

The defendants also contended that they designed the multi-cooker to be safe for use when operated as intended and according to the provided instructions. They denied the allegations that the product allowed pressure to build when the lid was not securely locked, asserting that they had ensured the product met all safety requirements.

The defendants claimed that Perez’s injuries were due to circumstances outside their control or unrelated to the product’s design or manufacture. Additionally, they denied engaging in deceptive trade practices or providing false assurances about the product’s safety.

Jury Verdict

On December 13, 2024, the jury awarded Georgina Perez a total of $55.5 million in damages. This was for her burn injuries and losses resulting from the defective pressure cooker explosion. The jury determined that Perez suffered significant harm due to the defective product. They awarded her $2 million for physical impairment and $3.5 million for noneconomic damages. These awards recognized the profound physical, emotional, and psychological impact of the incident.

The jury assigned 27% of the responsibility to Sunbeam Products, Inc. They assigned 63% of the responsibility to Newell Brands, Inc. Perez was found to bear only 10% of the responsibility for the events leading to her injuries. As a result, the jury imposed $15 million in punitive damages against Sunbeam. They also imposed an additional $35 million in punitive damages against Newell Brands ina product liability lawsuit.

Court Documents:

Documents Available for Purchase upon Request