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TriStar Defective Air Fryers Class Action Lawsuit Overview:
- Who: Consumers who bought TriStar air fryers are suing the company.
- Why: The customers say the air fryers are “dangerously defective” and can catch fire.
- Where: The plaintiffs are looking to represent customers in Florida and New Jersey.
“Dangerously defective” air fryers, one of which sent a woman and her two dogs fleeing their home, can catch fire, according to a new class action lawsuit lodged against manufacturer TriStar.
Lead plaintiffs Robin Velez and Karen Burke filed the class action lawsuit against TriStar Products, Inc. on Nov. 5 in a Florida federal court, alleging breaches of warranty and state consumer laws.
The plaintiffs say that TriStar sells a range of air fryers which suffer from “serious and dangerous design and manufacturing defects.”
During ordinary operation, the fryers can become overheated due to improper circulation of air, the class action says.
“The Defect is further exacerbated by the lack of an adequate, operational safety mechanism that would make the Air Fryers cycle or shut off and prevent overheating,” continues the lawsuit.
“As a result, the heating elements can overheat, catch fire, or smoke, causing damage to nearby kitchen components and posing a serious risk of personal injury to consumers.”
Air Fryer Defect Affects Multiple TriStar Models, Alleges CLass Action Lawsuit
The allegedly dangerous air fryers are the Emeril Lagasse Power Airfryer 360 models, which include the 360, 360 XL, Deluxe, and Plus models.
Burke bought the Emeril Lagasse Power Air Fryer 360 in 2020. In March 2021, she says she was cooking a chicken in her air fryer when she noticed a burning smell. She says she went into her kitchen to investigate and discovered the entire interior of the fryer had caught on fire.
Burke says she called her husband into the kitchen to extinguish the fire, while she escaped through the back door with her two dogs to avoid the fire and smoke-filled kitchen.
“Plaintiff Burke’s husband was able to unplug the unit and extinguish the fire but was unable to salvage their meal,” says the class action lawsuit.
The plaintiffs say TriStar has long known about the defect, but has failed to disclose it to consumers.
The plaintiffs are looking to represent anyone in Florida or New Jersey who bought a TriStar air fryer from an authorized retailer. They’re suing for breach of warranty, breach of contract, unjust enrichment, negligence and for breaching state consumer laws.
They’re seeking damages, fees, costs, expenses and a jury trial.
This is not the first time TriStar has been accused of selling defective cooking products. In 2018, Tristar made a deal to settle class action claims that several models of its pressure cookers were defective in ways that create unreasonable dangers for anyone who uses them.
Competitor Cuisinart was hit with a similar class action lawsuit earlier this year. A consumer claimed a Cuisinart Digital AirFryer Toaster Oven scorched her kitchen’s marble backsplash and demanded a nationwide recall along with damages.
Do you own a TriStar air fryer? Have you had issues with the unit overheating or even catching on fire? Tell us about it in the comment section below!
The plaintiffs are represented by Rachel Soffin and Harper T. Segui of Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman LLP.
The TriStar Defective Air Fryer Class Action Lawsuit is Velez et al., v. Tristar Products, Inc., Case No. 1:21-cv-23909-MGC, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
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24 thoughts onAir Fryer Fire Forces Woman, Dogs To Flee, Says Class Action Accusing TriStar of Defect
Not acceptable to sell substandard products, potential fire hazard.
Top element never worked thought it was me not used to it.. also impossible to clean without causing damage to the surface…. plug becomes really hot to handle when you disconnect.
I’ve been reaching Tristar and getting the run around because because the exterior plastic burned. There customer service is abominable.