Missouri Man Wins $2.3 Million in E-Cigarette Explosion Lawsuit

On September 15th, American media outlet stltoday reported that a man in Missouri, United States, was awarded $2.3 million in compensation by a jury after he was injured in an explosion caused by a purchased e-cigarette battery.

Bryan Durham, a resident of St. Charles County, Missouri, experienced a shocking incident while using an e-cigarette. Suddenly, the e-cigarette in his mouth exploded, resulting in not only shattered teeth but also a broken jaw and burns on his hand.

During the four-day trial in Durham, attorney Craig highlighted that e-cigarette retailer Lightfire Holdings LLC had been supplying customers with a "mini pipe bomb" equipped with powerful and unprotected lithium-ion batteries, without warning them of the potential dangers.

According to a lawsuit in Durham, e-cigarette sales have skyrocketed from roughly $20 million in 2008 to $2.5 billion in 2012. Experts predict that this business will soon surpass the entire tobacco industry.

The working principle of an e-cigarette involves using a battery-powered heating element to vaporize e-liquid, allowing smokers to inhale aerosol and nicotine. Many e-cigarettes are equipped with rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, which can experience "thermal runaway" when overheated, potentially leading to explosions, fires, or serious personal injury.

Due to inadequate safety measures provided at the time of purchase, the Tobeco Super Tank Mini e-cigarette bought by Durham could potentially result in batteries launching out like bullets.

Durham lawyer Craig argues that manufacturers should not wait until someone is injured before making changes.

The jury in St. Charles County has reached a verdict in the compensation case against Craig, awarding $352,000 in actual damages and $2 million in punitive damages. This decision is seen as a message to the e-cigarette industry that consumer harm cannot be disregarded as a mere business expense, according to Craig.