Our client purchased a tabletop fire pit from an online retail company along with the recommended lighter fluid. The product was designed with a cloth wick that had to be soaked in lighter fluid and then ignited. While using the fire pit, our client added more lighter fluid, causing the fire to flare up and severely burn his arm.
After the incident, our client discovered that the product had been removed from the website. Shortly afterward, the retail company sent a notice warning customers that the fire pit was dangerous, offering refunds, and recommending that owners stop using and dispose of the product. The manufacturer ultimately accepted responsibility for the defective design, making it clear that the fire pit was unsafe.
Because our client's wife is a nurse, she was able to treat his burn at home before going to the hospital. As a result, his medical bills were relatively low. Even so, we worked closely with the insurance company to show the full impact of the injury and how the defective product had affected our client's life.
The insurance company initially offered $100,000 to settle the claim. Because liability was clear and the manufacturer accepted responsibility for the dangerous design, we continued negotiating and ultimately secured a $250,000 settlement for a defective product injury in Kansas City for our client.
