Mike Curley
December 26, 2025
Firepit's Lithium-Ion Battery Caused Blaze, Suit Says
1 min
AI-made summary
- American Select Insurance Co
- filed an amended complaint in Ohio federal court alleging that a lithium-ion battery in a Ukiah Brand Tailgater 1.0 Audio Firepit malfunctioned and caused a fire that damaged Amy Wolf's property on May 11, 2024
- The insurer, having reimbursed Wolf for damages exceeding $75,000, seeks to recover costs from Ukiah Co
- and distributor JAM Trading LLC, citing negligence, strict products liability, and breach of warranties
- Ukiah has answered the complaint; JAM Trading has not yet responded.
A combination speaker and outdoor firepit's lithium-ion battery catastrophically failed and caused a fire that damaged its owner's property, according to an amended complaint filed Wednesday in Ohio federal court by the owner's insurer.
According to the complaint filed by American Select Insurance Co., Amy Wolf purchased a Ukiah Brand Tailgater 1.0 Audio Firepit, a gas-powered outdoor firepit with a built-in audio speaker, which was made by Ukiah Co. The lithium-ion battery powering the speaker malfunctioned and caused a fire May 11, 2024.
The suit was initially filed in April, and the amended complaint adds JAM Trading LLC, which distributed the speaker, as a defendant. American Select reimbursed Wolf for her damages, which the insurer said were in excess of $75,000, and is suing on her behalf to recoup the costs.
The complaint alleges Ukiah and JAMS were negligent in designing, marketing and distributing the firepit with a dangerous defect that caused the fire, and in failing to warn buyers of the danger. The complaint does not specify the nature of the defect.
The suit includes claims for negligence, strict products liability, and breach of express and implied warranties against both Ukiah and JAMS.
According to court documents, Ukiah has filed an answer to the initial complaint, while JAMS has not yet responded to the suit.
An attorney for American Select declined to comment Wednesday.
Representatives for the other parties could not immediately be reached for comment Wednesday.
American Select is represented by Matthew Connolly of de Luca Levine LLC.
Ukiah is represented by Stuart J. Goldberg of Eastman & Smith Ltd.
Counsel information for JAMS was not available Wednesday.
The case is American Select Insurance Co. v. Ukiah Co. et al., case number 3:25-cv-00634, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.
Article Author
Mike Curley
The Sponsor
