Button Battery Lawsuit

Button battery lawsuit settlements have been paid by Amazon and other retailers to children who were severely injured after swallowing a button battery or coin cell battery.

What You Can Do & How We Can Help

The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Button Battery injury cases in all 50 states. If your child swallowed a button battery that fell out of a recalled product, 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.

Amazon Pays $500,000+ Settlement in Button Battery Lawsuit

In August 2025, Amazon agreed to pay a button battery lawsuit settlement to a child who was severely burned after swallowing a button battery.

The young child, identified only as “A.A.” in the lawsuit, was just 16 months old when he swallowed a tiny button battery that fell out of a “Podfofo”-brand car stereo remote control that had been purchased from Amazon by the previous owner of his family’s vehicle.

According to the lawsuit settlement:

“A.A. suffered extreme chemical burns to his esophagus, which required emergency removal and at least one major subsequent corrective surgery. His parents suffered emotional trauma from having to witness their young child’s suffering.”

Amazon and its insurers agreed to pay $517,000 in costs, but the total lump sum of the settlement payout was not disclosed publicly.

The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington (Seattle) — Allen et al. v. Amazon.com Services LLC — Case Number 2:24-cv-00195.

What is the Problem?

Swallowing a button battery creates an electrical current that can cause burn injuries in as little as 1 hour. It is a life-threatening emergency and you must take the child to an Emergency Department.

Health Risks of Swallowing a Button Battery

There are many life-threatening health risks when children swallow a button battery, including:

Burn injuries to the throat, stomach, digestive system, nose, or ear
Severe pain and suffering
Airway damage
Tissue damage
Necrosis (tissue death)
Need for multiple corrective surgeries
Infection
Sepsis
Death

Reese’s Law: Mandatory Safety Standards for Button Batteries

Reese’s Law is a U.S. federal law that was signed in 2022, in memory of Reese Hamsmith, a baby girl who died after swallowing a button battery that fell out of a TV remote control.

Reese’s Law (P.L. 117-171) strengthened safety standards to prevent button battery accidents, such as:

Child-resistant battery compartments on products containing button batteries
Battery compartments must be secured, so that they require a tool to open, or at least two independent and simultaneous hand movements
Packaging and product must have clear warning labels about button battery safety hazards
Tougher packaging standards for button batteries

What Are Button Batteries?

Button batteries, also known as “coin cell batteries,” are associated with thousands of emergency department visits every year.

A button battery can burn through a child’s throat or esophagus in as little as 1 hour if it is swallowed, resulting in permanent injury or death. Children who survive this extremely painful accident typically require multiple corrective surgeries, and may still suffer from lifelong disabilities due to the severe burns to their throat.

What Products May Contain Button Batteries?

Keyless entry remotes
Wireless game controllers
TV remote controls
Toys
Pet toys
Digital scales
Digital thermometers
Watches
Musical greeting cards or other “singing” products
Calculators
Flashing-light jewelry or shoes
Hearing aids
And many other products

Button Battery Recalls for Non-Compliance With Reese’s Law

Reese’s Law has resulted in a growing number of recalls involving a variety of unexpected products, including baby swings, gun accessories, patio doors, and LED lights, pet toys, and more. These recalls involve multiple non-compliance issues, such as failing to include the mandatory warning labels or failing to adequately contain the batteries with a child-resistant compartment.

Button Battery Lawsuits

Button battery lawsuits have been filed on behalf of children who were severely injured by swallowing button batteries. These lawsuits are typically filed against the product manufacturers and retailers, holding them accountable for selling dangerous products that caused injuries.

Medical Malpractice Lawsuits for Button Battery Injuries

Button battery lawsuits may also be filed against doctors or healthcare providers. It only takes 2 hours for button batteries to cause severe burns when they are accidentally ingested by a child. If doctors fail to diagnose the injury, fail to conduct X-rays or other exams, or otherwise delay treatment, it may result in a far more severe or deadly injury.

What Do Lawsuits Seek?

Lawsuits involving button battery injuries may seek financial compensation for the child’s pain and suffering, medical bills, long-term injuries or disabilities, decreased quality of life, other damages suffered by the child, and expenses incurred by the child’s parents or caregivers.

What Do Lawsuits Claim?

Lawsuits may involve legal claims against the button battery product manufacturers or health care providers who failed to quickly diagnose this type of injury before the child was severely burned.

Examples of legal claims in button battery lawsuits may include:

Manufacturer failed to provide adequate warnings
Product was defectively designed (for example: battery compartment allowed the battery to easily fall out, or it was too easy for a child to open and access the button battery)
Doctors failed to diagnose and treat a button battery ingestion
Failure to conduct X-rays or other diagnostic exams on a child before a severe injury occurred
And more

Do I Have a Button Battery Lawsuit?

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