ST. LOUIS — A Missouri woman has filed a federal product liability lawsuit against Tristar Products, alleging that a defective pressure cooker lid caused an eruption of scalding contents that left her with severe and permanent burn injuries.
Suzette Wade claims she was injured on Jan. 28, 2023, while using an Emeril Lagasse Pressure AirFryer Plus, model Y6D-AF-36B, in Robertsville, Mo., according to the complaint filed last month in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri.
The lawsuit alleges the appliance’s pressure lid opened while the unit was still pressurized, causing hot food and steam to erupt onto her body.
Wade alleges she suffered serious burns to her face, chest, abdomen and arms as a direct result of the incident, leading to significant pain, medical expenses, mental anguish and permanent disfigurement.
The complaint states the product was being used as intended and in a foreseeable manner at the time.
The lawsuit accuses Tristar Products of designing, manufacturing, marketing and selling a product with dangerous defects that allowed the lid to be opened despite the presence of internal pressure.
According to the filing, the device was advertised as containing multiple built-in safety features intended to prevent precisely that scenario, including mechanisms designed to lock the lid and prevent opening until pressure is fully released.
Despite those representations, the complaint alleges the safety mechanisms failed, allowing the lid to be removed while the contents remained pressurized.
The resulting release of hot liquid and steam, the lawsuit claims, created a significant risk of injury that ultimately materialized in Wade’s case.
The filing further alleges that Tristar knew or should have known about the alleged defect before selling the product but continued to distribute it without adequate warnings or a recall.
The complaint states the company prioritized profit over consumer safety and failed to inform users that the lid could open under pressure.
Wade’s lawsuit also claims the product did not comply with established industry safety standards, specifically the UL 136 standard for pressure cookers, which requires that lids either remain secured until pressure is released or open in a manner that does not cause hazardous discharge of contents.
According to the complaint, the appliance was not certified under that standard and allegedly allowed an ordinary user to open the lid while pressure remained at a dangerous level.
In addition, the complaint alleges safer alternative designs for pressure cooker lid locking systems were available and feasible before the product’s manufacture, but were not implemented.
The lawsuit outlines multiple prior incidents and legal cases across the United States involving similar allegations that Tristar pressure cookers opened under pressure and caused burn injuries.
According to the filing, the company had received notice of such incidents as early as 2015 but did not halt sales or issue adequate warnings.
Wade brings claims including strict product liability, failure to warn and negligence. She alleges the product was unreasonably dangerous when it left the company’s control and that Tristar failed to provide sufficient warnings about the risks associated with its use.
Wade is seeking compensatory damages in excess of $75,000, along with additional relief including costs, interest and other damages to be determined at trial. She has requested a jury trial.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri case number: 4:26-cv-00316
