Products Liability Law Daily Wrap Up, COMPLAINTS—HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS—W.D. Wa.: Consumer alleges heating pad sold on Amazon caused severe burns, (Apr 29, 2025)

By Brian Craig, J.D.

The complaint alleges claims for strict products liability, negligence, and breach of implied warranty against online retailer Amazon for selling a defective heating pad.

A consumer that suffered severe burns from a heating pad has brought a products liability case against online retailer Amazon.com, Inc. in the federal district court in Seattle, Washington. alleging strict products liability, negligence, and breach of implied warranty under Washington state law for selling allegedly defective heating pads. The complaint alleges that the manufacturer based in the United Kingdom, Yeamons, is not subject to jurisdiction of the court, but that the giant online retailer Amazon should be liable for importing and selling the defective heating pad that caused second-degree burn injuries and an infection (Karim v. Amazon.com, Inc., Case 2:25-cv-00720 (W.D. Wa. Apr. 21, 2025)).

Background. A consumer in Philadelphia purchased a heating pad from the online retailer Amazon. Ten minutes after using the heading pad for the first time, the pad started to get extremely hot, despite still set to the lowest setting. The consumer tried to unbuckle the strap so that she could remove the heating pad but was unable to do so. The consumer then pulled the heating pad over her head. As a result, the consumer suffered second-degree burn injuries and an infection. The consumer filed suit against Amazon in the federal district court in Washington state where Amazon has it principal place of business. The complaint includes claims for strict products liability, negligence, and breach of implied warranty. The consumer did not name the manufacturer of the heating pad, Yeamons, which is based in the United Kingdom, as a defendant based on lack of personal jurisdiction over the manufacturer.

Strict products liability. The complaint alleges strict liability under Washington state law for importing and selling the defective heating pad. The consumer contends the heating pad sold by Amazon was defective and unreasonably dangerous for use by foreseeable consumers. The complaint claims that the heating pad was not altered or misused in any way. The heating pad did not perform as safely as an ordinary consumer would have expected it to perform when used in a reasonably foreseeable way, according to the complaint.

Negligence. The complaint also alleges negligence against Amazon in selling defective heating pads. The consumer claims Amazon failed to exercise ordinary care in the import, distribution, supply, warnings, quality assurance, quality control, advertising, marketing, promotion, and sale of the heating pads. Additionally, the negligence cause of action alleges that Amazon knew or should have known that the heating pads created a high risk of unreasonable harm to the consumer.

Implied warranty. Finally, the complaint alleges a claim for breach of the implied warranty of merchantability under Washington state law. The consumer claims the heating pads were not merchantable and fit for their ordinary purpose, because they had the propensity to lead to serious personal injuries.

The consumer seeks unspecific damages, attorney fees, and costs in the action. The consumer alleges significant and painful bodily injuries, permanent scarring, medical expenses, physical pain, mental anguish, and diminished enjoyment of life.

The case is No. 2:25-cv-00720.

Attorneys: Adam J. Kress (Johnson Becker PLLC) for Khadija Karim.

Companies: Amazon.com Inc.

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