TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - A lawsuit blames the sellers of vaping accessories for a battery allegedly exploding in a man's pocket.
Bennett Fields sued International Vapor Group, Turning Point Brands, Vapor Supply, Vapor Beast and Vapor Stockroom on Aug. 3 in Florida's Leon County Circuit Court. The suit says the defendants marketed, sold and shipped Samsung 18650 batteries to South Georgia Vape in Tallahassee despite not being authorized by Samsung.
Fields bought those batteries in 2018. He says on Oct. 24 of that year, he had two charged batteries inside his box mod in his pants pocket.
"As Mr. Fields neared the end of his driveway, one or both of the subject batteries exploded and burst into flames," the suit says. "The explosion blew the back of the box mod off and both batteries were ejected.
"As a result of the flames venting from the subject batteries, Mr. Fields' pants caught on fire."
Fields suffered significant burns from his waist down, the suit says, that required emergency care. He is represented by Michael Haire of Haire Law and Chris Moore of Richardson, Thomas, Haltiwanger, Moore & Lewis.