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American Family Insurance sues Amazon over alleged e-bike fire
The insurer is seeking reimbursement of $596,120.06 it paid after an e-bike allegedly combusted at a Minneapolis Domino's in July 2022.
American Family Insurance is suing Amazon.com and three other companies to recover $596,120.06 it paid out after an e-bike allegedly caught fire inside a Domino's Pizza restaurant in Minneapolis, according to a complaint filed July 16, 2026 in Minnesota federal court. The insurer says it covered the policyholder's loss first and is pursuing subrogation against the parties it deems responsible.
The lawsuit centers on an e-bike delivery driver purchased on Amazon in May 2022 from a third-party seller, Qoeklose. American Family’s filing names the overseas e-bike manufacturer as Shenzhen Chirrey Technology, and the lithium-ion battery maker as Woitian New Energy, in addition to Amazon.
American Family alleges the parked e-bike combusted and became on fire at about 6:30 p.m. on July 23, 2022, and emphasizes the bike and battery were not charging and were not connected to an electric outlet when the incident occurred. The complaint says the resulting blaze spread and caused extensive damage to the restaurant.
The insurer is asserting strict product liability, negligence, and breach-of-warranty claims against all four companies, alleging the e-bike was defective and unreasonably dangerous and that it spontaneously ignited during ordinary use. The filing notes these are allegations that have not been tested, and no court has ruled on the merits.