Nokia sued for 26k over battery blowup that costs man his leg

There are frivolous lawsuits, and then there are some that are so awful and unfortunately justified it's frightening; a Bangkok welder is seeking to recompense $26,000 US for severe burns, hand injuries, and a leg and five toe amputations due to an exploding battery. Though we're not yet sure whether or not the battery was a counterfeit (which they often are, especially in that region of the world—shoulda looked for the hologram, dude), we have a feeling Nokia will cut their losses on this one. Afterall, they're probably just thankful the blowup happened in a poorer nation—this would be a multimillion dollar suit if it occurred in the States.

[Via textually]

[Indigo @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

He's only charging for medical costs? fuck, losing a leg would fuck up your whole life. who wouldnt make it a multimillion dollar suit

[Z @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

$26,000?!? Gimme a break! This guy had his LEG and FIVE toes amputated and he's only suing for $26,000? Providing, of course, that he did use original Nokia parts, I'd reason that this guy needs to fire his attorney immediately and hire one with a brain. Nokias attorneys are probably laughing at how easy they'll get off.

If Nokia parts were to blame, and this had been me, I'd be suing them for $26 million.

Nokia would have ZERO excuse for putting out crap like that, but I'm sure we'll hear soon enough if Nokia is actually to blame or not.

[popeye @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Gosh doncha think this post is a little ah sarcastic, flippant, demeaning considering the poor chap's injuries?

Regardless of the amount he's wanting for compensation, you could be a little more humane. Other than owning the phone he's not at all to blame for his injuries, location or whatever battery installed in his phone.

[James @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Hey Z obviously you have no concept of macroeconomics. 26 grand in Thailand is alot of frickin money

[viktor @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

WOW!!!

"Afterall, they should be rather thankful the blowup happened in a poorer nation�this would be a multimillion dollar suit if it occurred in the States."

what kind of message are you try to say....

come on!!!!

[haunebu @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Not a SINGLE exploding battery has been Nokia's. They've ALL been a case of someone using a cheap ass $2 replacement - which get less quality control than a 7-Layer Burrito. You get what you pay for.

I really feel sorry for the guy, but Nokia doesn't have a thing to do with his limb loss. There's no way they'll pay him the 26 large, because doing so would admit guilt for something they just aren't responsible - and it'd set a precedent (the next counterfeit battery victim would sue for millions, citing this case). He needs to go after the people making and selling these counterfeit batteries.

[lunarcade @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

"Prosecutors said the man was working near a high-voltage power pole last March when the phone, in his shirt pocket, rang and then exploded. The newspaper said the man's right leg and all five toes of his left foot were amputated, while his right hand was handicapped."

damn it blew up in his shirt pocket and they had to take his leg... magic exploding cell phones! i wish i lived in thailand

[narco @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Oh give me a break #5, you know damn well that if it happened in the states it would have been a multi-million dollar lawsuit. The person was just being honest.

And $26,000 for injuries like this makes that chick who had McDonald's coffee burns look like a splinter-victim. I'd love to see a poll of how many Americans would rather be millionaires with a missing leg, and who would not. That would be interesting.

Fishes,
narco.

[lunarcade @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

#7
that "chick" was 81, and had third degree burns on her groin, thighs and buttocks that required skin grafts and a seven-day hospital stay.
just trying to inform people about what really happened, that case is brought up every day and nobody ever gets it right.

http://lawandhelp.com/q298-2.htm

[Z @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

"Hey Z obviously you have no concept of macroeconomics. 26 grand in Thailand is alot of frickin money."

James,

Obviously, you have no concept of what it means to sue a company for putting out a product that blows your leg off. The idea is to punish the company so they don't continue to put out crap product, not to get rich. Hence, what is a lot of money in Thailand as opposed to anywhere else, is irrelevant. Do you think $26,000 would mean anything to a giant corporation like Nokia? Don't think so.

But of course, this whole case is dependant on whether the part that exploded was even Nokia's in the first place, which we have yet to find out. And like Haunebu stated above, this guy might have the wrong target.

*****************************

"#1 get over yourself."

??? Get over myself? Not quite sure what you're talking about there, but whatever ya say.


"It's not like the guy was an athlete and used his leg for professional sports or something like that. Besides he still has the other leg and a lot of toes left."

LOL, yeah, very funny. Maybe you should email the guy your comments. I don't doubt he'd get the same laugh out of 'em that I did!

[Tweaq @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

How did a battery that small produce an explosion big enough, especially to take out it leg (unless maybe battery acid or something) from above his waist (I presume he was answering it and raising it to his head, and why didn't it blow up other body parts?)

[Doug Thacker @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

"this would be a multimillion dollar suit if it occurred in the States."

Exactly what I was thinking. $26,000 is a lot in Thailand - but not nearly enough for a leg and a hand. Is that 26k going to support his family for the rest of his life?

If it was a Nokia product, they ought to cough up ten times that, and fly the guy to Europe for rehab and a prosthetic.

[Carmi @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Even though this may not be the top choice in the top national burn units, its announcement continues to point to where the industry is going. We'll likely see more shaking out of both products and vendors in the months to come, but it's clear the 3rd degree burn potential curve is far from going flat.

[DaveH @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Speaking as an amputee, and a nokia user I hope the guy gets compensated by the appropriate parties, at an adequete level.

Speaking as some one who went through a product liability lawsuit in America - it takes forever, and the settlements aren't what you might think. e.g. I am off to work soon.

As a gadget person - prosthetic limbs are pretty inovative devices. Though damn expensive. In America that 26k wouldn't pay for two below the knee limbs. Maybe one above the knee limb.

[Khaytsus @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Hey #4, amazingly stupid observation..

---
It's not like the guy was an athlete and used his leg for professional sports or something like that. Besides he still has the other leg and a lot of toes left.
---

Let's see.. He loses his entire leg.. Plus five of his toes. How many toes does that leave, Sparky?

[shar @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

first, 26k is a million in Thai, a million baht. yes, it's not a lot even for Thais (unless you're in a very VERY rural places). but you could have nothing. success rate for this kind of legal battle is much lower in Thailand than in the state.


"It's not like the guy was an athlete and used his leg for professional sports or something like that. Besides he still has the other leg and a lot of toes left."

that must be the most ignorant comment I have ever heard of. you'll value your leg even if you're couch potato.

"damn it blew up in his shirt pocket and they had to take his leg... magic exploding cell phones! i wish i lived in thailand"

This guy works as a welder, and he was working while this happened, you don't know the whole story, he might be bending/crouching/squating, you don't see the whole picture here don't assume that Thai Court system is unreasonable. (they were at times, yes, but just like the rest of this freaking world)

[Nelson @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

"I am an idiot."
- Carmi

ha haw

[Usman @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

I agree with #6, there's no way Nokia can admit liability. Consumer confidence for their brand would drop across the world if they did. And I doubt it's their fault, it was almost definitely a counterfeit battery.

They need to beat this guy in court and wage a PR campaign to protect their brand.

[RRF @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

#1 get over yourself.

It's not like the guy was an athlete and used his leg for professional sports or something like that. Besides he still has the other leg and a lot of toes left.

I bet ya they will settle for $120 and a pair of sneakers (made in China by a hand amputee. His hand was amputated after he tried to steal a battery for his cell phone)

[TheOreoSpeaks @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

All of you MF's are stupid as hell! Quit bickering.