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Maruchan Instant Lunch Soup Cup Burn Lawsuit

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C.L. Mike Schmidt Published by C.L. Mike Schmidt

Have you or someone close to you experienced a burn from a Maruchan Instant Lunch soup cup? Medical professionals specializing in burns have indicated that instant soups, such as those from Maruchan Instant Lunch contained in styrofoam cups, present significant risks for burns. This is particularly true for children who often accidentally knock these cups over while consuming them. Indeed, one of the primary sources of scalding and burn wounds in young ones comes from heated soups, especially those that are instant and pre-packaged like Maruchan Instant Lunch.

Free Confidential Case Evaluation: If you or a loved one has been burned or scalded by a Maruchan Instant Lunch soup cup, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a suit against the manufacturer of the Maruchan Instant Lunch and we can help.

Update: Korean Court Awards Instant Soup Burn Victim Nearly $100,000

February 2, 2018 – A court in Seoul, Korea, has ordered Asiana Airlines and one of its employees to pay a passenger about 100 million won ($93,569) for severely burning her by accidentally pouring instant noodle soup on her during a flight. The passenger, a Korean fashion model who goes by the surname Chang, was flying to Paris from Incheon in a business class seat on March 17, 2014, when the flight attendant spilled the noodle soup, causing second and third-degree burns to her lower body.

See more: Instant Noodle Soup Burn Lawsuit

Maruchan Soup Burn Lawsuit Settled

April 28, 2016 – A confidential settlement has been reached in a federal lawsuit in which a North Carolina woman claimed that a defectively designed Maruchan Instant Lunch Soup Cup caused her daughter to suffer 2nd-degree burns. Plaintiff Kimberly Buffkin filed the complaint in Nov. 2013 against Maruchan Inc. and its parent company, Toyo Suisan Kaisha.

She claims her daughter was about a year old when her father prepared a Maruchan Instant Lunch in May 2011. She says her nephew accidentally tipped over the noodle cup, resulting in its hot contents spilling onto Buffkin’s daughter and giving her second-degree burns.

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Was Your Child Burned by a Maruchan Instant Lunch Soup Cup?

Parents often turn to Maruchan Instant Lunch soup cups as a quick and easy way to give their children a delicious meal. Unfortunately, these meals often turn into tragedies, causing severe burns and scald injuries when the cups tip over. Now, instead of spending a relaxing afternoon with your child, you’re in the emergency room wondering how you could’ve prevented this accident.

Instant Soup Burn Injuries on the Rise Nationwide

NPR recently aired a report discussing this issue which stated that Maruchan Instant Lunch cups are dangerous because the soup is hot, sticky, and served in a container that is tall and narrow, which makes it prone to tipping over. When noodles spill out of these cups, they cling to the skin and can cause 2nd degree burns. In many cases, these burns result in life-long scarring and limited mobility. Because of the extreme temperature of the noodles, they cause deeper burns, often landing children in hospital burn units.

Related: Hot Soup Spill Burn Lawsuit

Cup of Soup Burn Injury Study

The dangers posed by products like the Maruchan Instant Lunch soup cup were recently the subject of a peer-reviewed study published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) entitled “Instant cup of soup: design flaws increase risk of burns.” For the study, researchers measured the height and base of several different instant soups, and found that the height of the cups make them easy to tip over. The researchers, which included a team of physicians at the U.C. Davis Shriners Burn Hospitals for Children, determined that wider bases and shorter heights, along with more prominent burn warnings on the packaging, would greatly reduce the occurrence of instant noodle soup cup burn and scald injuries.

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Lawsuit filed after Maruchan Soup Cup Burns N.C. Toddler

Forsyth County, N.C. resident Kimberly Buffkin is blaming design defects of the Maruchan Instant Lunch for the 2nd degree burns that her 1-year-old daughter received when a boiling soup cup spilled on her 2 years ago. In November 2013, Buffkin filed a lawsuit in Forsyth Superior Court against Maruchan and its Japanese parent company Toyo Suisan Kaisha, alleging that the company’s Instant Lunch cup is designed in a way to makes it prone to tipping over and spilling.

According to the complaint, Buffkin purchased a Maruchan Instant Lunch soup cup on May 27, 2011. Her daughter was with her father, Jason A. Powell, as he heated the noodles. Powell’s 1-year-old nephew was also present. After heating the soup, Powell put the Instant Lunch on the kitchen counter so it could cool, but the nephew tipped it over and spilled boiling noodles onto Powell’s daughter, who was standing below waiting for her meal. The child allegedly suffered 2nd degree burns to her groin, chest, shoulder and back, which required skin grafts and cosmetic surgery to treat. Buffkin claimed in the lawsuit that her daughter will have to undergo additional procedures, including reconstructive surgery.

Soup Burn Injuries Could Be Avoided

Your child shouldn’t have to suffer due to the poor design of a Maruchan Instant Lunch soup cup. If Maruchan would re-design their containers, making them shorter and wider, it would make the base more stable and less likely to tip over. Thus, soup burns would likely decrease significantly around the country. Additionally, the packaging of these instant soup cups should have more prominent warnings about burn risks, so that parents are aware of these very real dangers.

FAQs

What types of injuries are associated with Maruchan Instant Lunch soup cup burns?

Injuries associated with Maruchan Instant Lunch soup cup burns typically include second- and third-degree burns, particularly to the hands, arms, torso, and legs. These burns can cause severe pain, permanent scarring, and may require extensive medical treatment, including surgeries and long-term rehabilitation.

What are the common allegations in Maruchan Instant Lunch soup cup burn lawsuits?

Common allegations in these lawsuits include defective design, failure to warn consumers about the risks, and negligence in ensuring the safety of the product. Plaintiffs may argue that the manufacturer did not adequately test the cups or failed to redesign them despite knowing about the risks of tipping and scalding.

Can Maruchan be held liable for burns caused by their Instant Lunch soup cups?

Yes, Maruchan can be held liable if it is proven that their Instant Lunch soup cups are defectively designed or that the company failed to provide adequate warnings about the risks. A successful lawsuit could result in compensation for the injured party and potentially lead to changes in the product’s design or labeling.

What defenses might Maruchan use in a soup cup burn lawsuit?

Maruchan might defend itself by arguing that the burns were caused by improper use of the product, such as handling the cup carelessly or failing to follow the instructions. They might also claim that the risks are well-known and that consumers are responsible for taking precautions when handling hot liquids.

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Do I Have a Maruchan Instant Lunch Soup Cup Burn Lawsuit?

The Product Liability Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs in Maruchan Instant Lunch Soup Cup Burn Lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new cases in all 50 states.

Free Confidential Case Evaluation: Again, if you were burned or scalded by a Maruchan Instant Lunch soup cup, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a suit and we can help.

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