LG Chem Escapes Lawsuit Over Exploding Vape Battery in Texas

LG Chem Ltd. escaped a man’s personal injury lawsuit over an allegedly exploding vaping device, after a Texas appeals court ruled Tuesday that there isn’t a substantial connection between the claims and the South Korean company’s contacts in the state.

Javier Zapata sued LG Chem and its US subsidiary LG Chem America Inc. alleging that he was badly burned when his e-cigarette’s lithium-ion battery exploded and caught fire in his pants pocket. He alleged LG Chem designed, made, or marketed the battery, which he bought from a vape shop in Highlands, Texas.

But specific jurisdiction requires that the plaintiff’s claim ...