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Samsung Sued By Man Who Says Galaxy S7 Edge Burst Into Flames In His Pocket
By
Gaby Del Valle
Published Sep 12, 2016
Modified Sep 12, 2016
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By
Gaby Del Valle
Published Sep 12, 2016
Modified Sep 12, 2016
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Samsung issued a recall of their Galaxy Note7 phones after multiple incidents in which the phone exploded while charging, but now the company is being hit by a lawsuit alleging that a Galaxy S7 Edge, which was not included in the recall, exploded in its owner's pocket.
Morgan & Morgan, a firm best known for its personal injury litigation, has filed a product liability suit against Samsung on behalf of a man who says he suffered serious burns after his phone caught fire in his back pocket.
The suit claims that Daniel Ramirez, 23, suffered second- and third-degree burns after his Galaxy S7 Edge caught fire on May 30th as he was working on a job at a campus bookstore in Akron, Ohio. Ramirez's attorneys say he noticed "whistling, screeching, and vibrating, as well as smoke coming from his pocket" shortly after he began working and suffered burns to his right hand while trying to remove the phone from his pocket. The phone exploded before he was able to remove it, leaving him with burns on his thigh, groin, and lower back, according to the lawsuit.
Samsung says there have been at least 35 recent cases of phones with "a battery cell phone issue," including a Brooklyn child who suffered burns after the phone exploded in his hands; a Massachusetts man whose phone allegedly caught fire while charging overnight and a Florida man whose phone exploded and engulfed his Jeep in flames. Unlike most other cases, Ramirez's phone was not charging when it caught fire.
Last Friday, Samsung issued a recall of their Galaxy Note7 phones after several incidents in which the phones' lithium-ion batteries had exploded due to overheating while charging—the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission urged anyone who owns a Galaxy Note7 to turn off their phones and exchange them. The Federal Aviation Administration released a statement last week advising passengers to keep their Note7s turned off on planes and refrain from putting them inside checked baggage.
"The current recall is on the Samsung Galaxy Note, but I believe that it will be extended after we file suit," attorney Mike Morgan said in a statement. "Numerous Samsung products use the same kind of lithium ion battery, which has also been known to explode in hoverboards and electronic cigarettes."
Ramirez is seeking damages for medical bills, pain and suffering, and physical and financial harm. According to a release from Morgan & Morgan, he has already had multiple skin graft surgeries, but requires more surgery and physical therapy to fully regain use of his right leg.
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