Samsung was inundated with demands from users last week after the batteries of several Galaxy Note 7 units overheated and exploded. Now, the first suit has been filed against the company.
Daniel Ramirez is suing Samsung after sustaining second and third-degree burns when his Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge smartphone exploded in his pocket.
According to Class Action, Ramirez claims that the explosion occurred on May 30 when he was at a bookstore construction site in Ohio, working for the National Property Solutions Group. His product liability suit offers no information about the cause of the explosion except that it caught fire in his pocket.
Ramirez is a construction worker who received serious burns to his right thumb, finger and right leg. He was able to remove the phone from his pocket but was unable to quickly remove his pants and boxers. The S7 Edge allegedly ignited his pants and melted it, leaving Ramirez in pain and shock. The burn injuries are said to be life-changing and permanent as Ramirez requires physical therapy and skin graft surgery. Ramirez legal team has asked the New Jersey Superior Courts to order Samsung to compensate him up to $15,000 for the damages.
Ramirez's lawyers are calling for further investigation to find out if their case is related to the recent Galaxy Note 7 flaw. They believe that if the explosion was due to a battery flaw just like the one in the Note 7, the company should also recall the Galaxy S7 Edge.