Woman wins $7.1 million in lawsuit after cooking spray exploded and left her disfigured

A woman has been awarded over $7 million by a jury six years after she was left badly burnt from a can of cooking oil.

Tammy Reese was working at Hub City Club in Shippensburg on May 9, 2017, in the kitchen when a can of Swell cooking spray exploded and left her with second-degree burns.

After suing the manufacturer, Reese has now been awarded $7.1million from Conagra Brands.

The kitchen worker was allegedly close to the stove when on a shelf above, the cooking spray can began to swell and spew.

According to a court document from 2019, the can 'suddenly and without warning began spraying its extremely flammable contents' before falling from the shelf, setting her on fire.

Facebook/ Tammy Reese

The lawsuit went on the explain that she suffered second-degree burns which are still making it difficult for her to move.

Speaking about the ordeal, Reese said in a statement “Nothing can begin to describe the excruciating pain and fear I felt that day”.

During this incident, Reese suffered burns to her face, head, arms and hands as well as 'burns, scarring and disfigurement,' according to the lawsuit.

The suit added that Reese has had to go through 'great pain and anguish in both mind and body' which is still impeding her today, resulting in large amounts of medical expenses.

However, it was what was inside of the can that raised some serious issues as inside of the Swell cooking spray included a mixture of cooking oil and propane and butane, which are incredibly flammable.

The lawsuit filed on Reese’s behalf detailed: “Tammy Reese could not have discovered any defect in the Swell Cooking Spray through the exercise of due care.”

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The brand has been in business for a century with other known cooking products under its belt such as PAM cooking spray, Bertolli pasta products, Duncan Hines baking products, and the pickle brand Vlasic.

According to the Cook County Court verdict, Conagra Brands now has to pay $3.1million in compensatory damages as well as $4million in punitive damages.

However, the brand disagrees with the statement and stated in an emailed statement: “We continue to stand by our cooking spray products, which are safe and effective when used correctly, as instructed. We are evaluating our legal options, including appeal.”

Reese’s attorney’s, J. Craig Smith, noted that there are 50 cases against the company for other burn victims in the US and accused the brand of not pulling defective cans from shelves.

Conagra has reiterated that its warning labels on the cans explicitly state not to leave them on or near a stove due to flammable substances.