U.S. Man Awarded $2.3 Million After E-Cigarette Battery Explosion; Manufacturer May Be Liable

A U.S. man was awarded $2.3 million after an e-cigarette battery explosion; the lawyer claims the e-cigarette distributor failed to adequately inform of potential dangers. The e-cigarette market is rapidly growing, but it poses numerous safety issues, and manufacturers should be held accountable.

On September 15, U.S. media stltoday reported that a man from Missouri was awarded $2.3 million in damages after being injured by an e-cigarette he purchased.

Bryan Durham, a resident of St. Charles County, Missouri, had his e-cigarette explode in his mouth while using it, shattering his teeth, fracturing his jaw, and burning his hand.

Durham's lawyer, Craig, pointed out during the four-day trial that the e-cigarette distributor Lightfire Holdings LLC provided customers with a “mini pipe bomb” equipped with a powerful, unprotected lithium-ion battery, without warning them of the potential dangers.

According to Durham's lawsuit, e-cigarette sales surged from about $20 million in 2008 to $2.5 billion in 2012, with experts predicting this business will soon surpass the entire tobacco industry.

E-cigarettes work by using a battery-powered heating element to vaporize e-liquid, allowing smokers to inhale vapor and nicotine. Many e-cigarettes contain rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, which can experience “thermal runaway” when overheated, potentially leading to explosions, fires, or serious bodily harm.

Because the Tobeco Super Tank Mini e-cigarette purchased by Durham did not provide adequate protection, the device's battery could shoot out like a bullet.

Durham's lawyer Craig stated that manufacturers should not wait until someone is injured to make changes.

The St. Charles County jury awarded Craig a compensation verdict that included $352,000 in actual damages and $2 million in punitive damages. Craig believes the jury wanted to send a message that the e-cigarette industry cannot treat consumer injuries as a business cost.