Jury Sides with Techtronic in State Farm Fire Lawsuit

Case Background

State Farm filed a lawsuit against Techtronic Industries North America, Inc., Home Depot U.S.A., Inc., and Does 1–20 after a house fire allegedly caused by a defective charger. The fire occurred at a property insured by State Farm. The malfunctioning charger, sold by the defendants, triggered the incident and caused extensive damage. State Farm paid over $1.18 million to repair and replace affected structures and belongings. The case focuses on the charger’s unsafe condition when it entered the market.

Cause

Plaintiffs alleged that the charger contained manufacturing and design defects, rendering it unsafe even when used as intended. They claimed the product left the defendants’ control in a dangerous state and lacked adequate warnings or instructions. The defendants, who marketed the product with apparent technical expertise, were accused of ignoring or failing to act on known risks. This alleged negligence and failure to warn directly led to the fire.

Injury

The fire caused severe damage to the home and destroyed personal property. The insureds suffered significant emotional and financial distress. They lost the use of their residence and faced disruptions to daily life. The complaint emphasized that the incident resulted solely from the charger’s failure—not misuse or external events—and the damages continued to grow after the fire.

Damages

State Farm reported paying approximately $1,189,618.11 under the insureds’ policy, covering structural repairs, personal property losses, remediation, and temporary housing. Additional costs included deductibles and anticipated future expenses. The lawsuit also referenced the emotional toll and inconvenience experienced by the insureds, seeking compensation beyond financial loss.

Key Arguments and Proceedings

Legal Representation

• Plaintiff(s): State Farm General Insurance Company | State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company

• Counsel for Plaintiff: Brian S. Letofsky | Dominic J. Fiore

• Defendant(s): Techtronic Industries North America, Inc. | Home Depot U.S.A., Inc. | Does 1–20

• Counsel for Defendants: David William Kempen | Jeffrey R. Williams

Claims

Plaintiffs raised several legal claims:

1. Negligence in manufacturing, design, inspection, and sale

2. Strict product liability:

   • Manufacturing defect

   • Design defect

   • Failure to warn

3. Breach of implied warranties:

   • Merchantability

   • Fitness for a particular purpose

They sought full recovery of all losses arising from the incident, including property damage, personal hardship, and any future associated costs.

Defense

The Defendants filed a general denial under California law, rejecting all allegations and causes of action asserted in State Farm’s complaint. They denied any wrongdoing or liability for the damages caused by the alleged product defect, asserting that neither they nor their employees were responsible for the fire or resulting losses.

In their affirmative defenses, the Defendants argued that the complaint failed to state a valid claim and attributed any damages to the negligence or misuse by the plaintiffs or third parties beyond their control. They claimed the charger was not defective, was used improperly, and conformed to applicable safety standards and the state of the art at the time of manufacture. Additionally, they asserted defenses such as superseding cause, failure to mitigate damages, compliance with regulations, and disclaimer of implied warranties. They sought dismissal with prejudice, recovery of legal costs, and any further relief deemed appropriate by the court.

Jury Verdict

On January 15, 2025, the jury returned a verdict in favor of Techtronic Industries North America, Inc. and Home Depot U.S.A., Inc., rejecting all claims brought by State Farm General Insurance Company and State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company. The jury found that the defendants were not liable for the alleged product defects, negligence, or breach of warranty related to the charger that caused the fire, and awarded no damages to the plaintiffs.

Court Documents

Court documents are available for purchase upon request at Jurimatic@exlitem.com