Sauna Pod Lawsuit Filed by Pennsylvania Women After Suffering Severe Burns

A Pennsylvania woman is claiming that a Chinese manufacturer’s “sauna pod” system left her with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after she received severe burns to her lower abdomen.

The complaint (PDF) was filed by Melissa M. Masartis in the Court of Common Pleas of Alleghany County, Pennsylvania, naming Guangdong Likou Beauty Supply Co. Ltd. as the defendant.

Sauna pods are portable infrared saunas designed to heat the body from within, promoting relaxation, detoxification and weight loss. Their compact, tanning bed-like design has made them increasingly popular for home and commercial use.

According to the complaint, one such sauna pod, manufactured by Guangdong Likou Beauty Supply, a company based in Guangzhou, China, was installed at Fit America Weight Loss Spa in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on September 25, 2020.

Masartis, a customer at Fit America, claims that she used the Guangdong Likou sauna pod around April 14, 2023, when it overheated to an unsafe temperature, causing severe burns on her lower abdomen, which required surgery.

Masartis claims she was required to undergo a debridement and flap reconstruction surgery of the lower abdomen, which is a procedure used to remove dead or damaged tissue and promote healing. Flap reconstruction involves using healthy tissue from another area of the body to restore the affected region, helping to cover wounds, improve function, and reduce scarring.

As a result, Masartis claims she has endured, and will continue to endure pain, suffering and the possibility of additional surgeries, all of which have already incurred significant costs and will continue to do so. She also alleges that she has been left with permanent scars and disfigurement.

In addition, Masartis claims she suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), experiencing ongoing anxiety, depression, nervousness and tension.

“Defendant breached its duty by negligently placing the sauna pod into the stream of commerce when they knew or should have known that the design, manufacture, and warning labeling of the sauna pod were defective, unreasonably dangerous, and created a high risk of unreasonable harm to Plaintiff and consumers in general,” the lawsuit states. “At the time Defendant designed and/or manufactured the sauna pod, it knew or should have known that the sauna pod was prone to overheating and lacked adequate safety features and/or warnings in light of the product’s expected use.”

The complaint brings forth allegations of strict liability and negligence on the part of Gunagdong Likou Beauty Supply, seeking damages through a jury trial.