A lawsuit has been filed against two major consumer product companies, alleging serious safety defects in a popular kitchen appliance. Gretchen Taylor initiated the complaint on January 16, 2026, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia against Sunbeam Products, Inc., and Newell Brands, Inc. The lawsuit claims that these companies have been selling pressure cookers with dangerous defects that pose significant risks to consumers.
According to the complaint, Sunbeam Products and Newell Brands design, manufacture, and sell a range of consumer products including the Crock-Pot Express Crock Multicooker. The plaintiff alleges that despite marketing these pressure cookers as having safety features like “safety sensors” to prevent opening under pressure, they are defective. The lawsuit details incidents where lids were removable while still pressurized, leading to scalding contents being ejected and causing injuries. A recall by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on November 24, 2020, is cited in the complaint after reports of lid detachment resulting in numerous burn injuries.
Gretchen Taylor claims she suffered severe burns on February 21, 2024, when her pressure cooker’s lid was removed while it was still pressurized. She accuses the defendants of negligence for failing to redesign or adequately warn consumers about these risks despite knowing about them. Taylor’s attorneys argue that economical and safer alternative designs exist but were not implemented due to prioritizing profit over safety.
The lawsuit seeks compensatory damages for medical expenses and pain suffered by Taylor due to her injuries. It also demands punitive damages against Sunbeam Products and Newell Brands for their alleged willful neglect of consumer safety and failure to act responsibly upon discovering these defects. Additionally, Taylor requests attorney fees and any other relief deemed appropriate by the court.
Representing Gretchen Taylor are attorneys from Johnson Becker PLLC and Conley Griggs Partin LLP. The case is presided over by Judge SEG under Case ID 1:26-cv-00284-SEG.
Source: 126cv284_Gretchen_Taylor_v_Sunbeam_Products_Complaint_Northern_District_of_Georgia.pdf
