A Houston man has filed a products liability case against Korean electronics manufacturer LG Chem and a Houston vape shop, alleging the lithium ion battery in the electronic cigarette he was using allegedly exploded in his face, causing over $1 million in damages.

Dunta White alleges in the recent petition that he suffered dramatic and devastating injuries last year when he purchased an LG Chem battery from H Town Vape Inc., a company which is also named as a defendant in the case.

“Upon first use, the subject battery exploded, causing plaintiff to sustain severe injuries to his mouth, face, and other parts of his body,” according to the recent petition filed in Harris County's 157th District Court.

“The explosion caused a large piece of the device to be lodged in the plaintiff's mouth and throat,” according to the petition, which includes an X-ray photograph of an object lodged deep in White's mouth.

Scott Armstrong, a partner in Houston's Armstrong Lee Savage who represents White in the case, said his firm has identified 270 prior incidents of e-cigarette batteries exploding.

“Sometimes it's while in use. Sometimes it's while they are charging and sometimes it while they are in someone's pocket,” Armstrong said of the alleged explosions. “These are e-cigarettes and people are buying batteries for them and the batteries do not contain any warnings. And they have a tendency to explode. It's a design defect as well as a warning defect.”

The petition alleges design defect and failure to warn causes of action against both LG Chem and H Town Vape Inc.

Josh Davis, a partner in the Houston office of Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith who represents LG Chem, declined to comment about the petition. Morgan Roberts, the registered agent for H Town Vape Inc., also did not immediately return a call for comment.