January 27, 2014 — The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) is recalling more Flushmate III Pressure-Assist Flushing Systems after receiving three reports of the pressurized toilets exploding.
The problem is that the a weld seam can burst and release pressure, which can lift the lid and shatter the tank. Flushmate is facing several exploding toilet lawsuits, including a class action in California, from people who had property damage or lacerations.
The Series 503 Flushmate III was previously recalled in June 2012, following 304 reports of explosions and 14 impact or laceration injuries. Approximately 2.3 million toilets manufactured between October 1997 and February 2008 were recalled.
Now, the recall is being expanded to include about 351,000 toilets manufactured from March 2008 until June 2009. There have been three reports of explosions, and no injuries.
A picture of the worst-known injury can be seen on the CPSC website. The victim was a 26 year-old man who had a deep laceration on his back caused by broken porcelain. He needed dozens of stitches. After filing a lawsuit, the victims stated:
“Because I am a bigger person, I was able to absorb the brunt of the force. Again, had this happened to someone elderly or a child, the outcome could have been catastrophic.”
Flushmate Class Action Lawsuit
Soon after the 2012 recall, a Flushmate class action lawsuit was filed in federal court in California. Lawyers are seeking $5 million in damages from Flushmate, which is owned by Sloan Valve Co., alleging that the repair kit provided by the company is inadequate and the defective toilets require replacement from a professional plumber. The complaint alleges that Flushmate knew about the problem in 2000 or earlier, but failed to warn consumers and continued to sell the defective product.
Do I have a Flushmate Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Flushmate III induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been injured by an exploding toilet, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Product Liability Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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