Student sues Amazon after phone charger ignites in his pocket

A customer has reportedly sued online-retail giant Amazon after a portable phone charger purchased from their website apparently burst into flames in his pocket.

The student suffered first, second and third degree burns in the incident.

The University student alleged that he was out playing pool when he borrowed the portable external charger from his friend to charge his own phone. He connected the charger to his phone before pocketing it. His lawsuit explains that the charger overheated and then “spontaneously ignited” inside his trouser pocket.

The victim and his friends quickly put out the flames but not before he suffered varying degrees of burns on his thigh, calf and hand. The charger is believed to contain ion lithium polymer batteries. Although purchased through Amazon, the device was Chinese-made and distributed by a separate firm named as a co-defendant.

An Amazon spokesperson refused to comment on the incident until the claim reached a conclusion.

Not an isolated incident

This isn’t the first lawsuit of its kind as a number of chargers have been suspected and blamed for other fires. Back in April 2015, a house fire was blamed on a battery from the same supplier. Last year in July, another reportedly set on fire while being carried inside someone’s pocket as well.

Like the increasing number of e-cigarette fires, defective or poorly-made batteries may be susceptible to combustion and injuring users and people nearby.

The lawsuit

The victim is suing Amazon and supplier EasyAcc for allegedly selling and distributing a device when it knew, or should have known, that the charger “posed a risk of serious damage and injury.” In selling them anyway, the companies have purportedly put their consumers at risk of harm that they could have otherwise prevented.

Given the previous incidents, it’s fair to suggest that EasyAcc should have investigated the products they were distributing and checked they were safe for use and handling.

Offending battery identity unknown

It has not been confirmed which 10,000mAh portable charger by EasyAcc caused the injuries, but Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk continue to sell external chargers by EasyAcc.

Several customers in the U.K. have left worrying reviews on Amazon.co.uk’s page about overheating and one occasion where the charger “burnt out a plug, destroying a power strip and charger”, risking a fire.

Scarred for life

According to his lawsuit, the serious burns will leave the victim with scars for life. For the pain and suffering endured during the incident and in recovering from his injuries, the victim is claiming financial compensation from Amazon and EasyAcc.