Samsung Beats Texas Vaper’s Burn Suit for Lack of Link to State

Samsung SDI Co. dodged a Texas vaper’s suit alleging he was badly burned by an exploding e-cigarette battery, as a federal court in Texas said the South Korean company’s business activities in the state lack the needed connection to the lawsuit.

James Ethridge alleged he was hurt severely when his e-cigarette’s lithium-ion battery exploded and caught fire in his pants pocket. He alleged Samsung manufactured the 18650 lithium-ion battery, which he bought from a third-party seller on Amazon.

Ethridge contended that the company’s battery sales in Texas make it subject to suit in the state.

Samsung argued that the 18650 ...