Sauder Schelkopf is investigating reports that certain Whirlpool, KitchenAid, and JennAir cooktops may have a dangerous defect causing surface elements to turn on by themselves without user input.
The Issue
Consumers have reported that cooktop surface elements can activate unexpectedly, even when the appliance is not in use. This type of spontaneous activation presents a serious safety concern, as it can occur without warning.
Whirlpool previously recalled certain cooktops after receiving 133 reports of units turning on by themselves, including incidents involving fires, property damage, and burn injuries.
Safety Risks
When a cooktop activates on its own, it can create dangerous conditions, including:
- Unintended heat generation
- Risk of burns
- Increased risk of fire
Because the activation occurs without user input, consumers may be unaware that the cooktop is on, increasing the likelihood of harm.
Our Investigation
Sauder Schelkopf is investigating whether this issue is the result of a defect in the cooktop’s control system and whether consumers were adequately informed of the risk.
Experience Matters
Sauder Schelkopf has a nationally recognized litigation practice. The firm currently serves as court-appointed lead counsel in courts across the country. The attorneys at Sauder Schelkopf have recovered over $1 billion on behalf of their clients and class members. Our firm was recognized by the Legal Intelligencer’s 2022 Professional Excellence Awards. The Legal Intelligencer’s Professional Excellence Awards honor Pennsylvania law firms and attorneys who have made a significant, positive impact on the legal profession. Our firm was named in the Litigation Departments of the Year (Specialty Area category; runner-up), an award that honors the best litigation practice in a small or mid-sized firm in Pennsylvania. This recognition was based on the firm’s 2021 litigation work and its important ongoing cases. LawDragon has recognized our attorneys in its list of the “500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers” for 2022. This list notes: “From the opioid epidemic to toxic substances and defective products, truck accidents to wildfires and sexual abuse, these are the lawyers who stand on the front line in individual lawsuits and class actions seeking justice.” Mr. Schelkopf was named to Pennsylvania’s Best Lawyers® 2022 for Class Actions/Mass Tort Litigation. The American Lawyer named Mr. Sauder to its 2021 Northeast Trailblazers. The honor recognizes 60 lawyers who are “truly agents of change.” It “recognizes professionals in the Northeast who have moved the needle in the legal industry.” The Legal Intelligencer named Mr. Sauder and Mr. Schelkopf in its 2020 Pennsylvania Trailblazers list recognizing 31 lawyers who “have taken extra measures to contribute to positive outcomes . . . and who are truly agents of change.” The Legal highlighted the firm’s innovative work on advocacy as class counsel in large institutional sex abuse cover-ups, women’s, and children’s rights. Our attorneys have also consistently been recognized by their peers being named to Pennsylvania SuperLawyer, a distinction held by the top 5% of attorneys in Pennsylvania. The National Trial Lawyers Association has also selected our attorneys as the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Pennsylvania.
We Want to Hear from You
If your Whirlpool, KitchenAid, or JennAir cooktop has turned on by itself, you can contact the attorneys at Sauder Schelkopf by filling out the form on this page.