Two insurers are suing Electrolux, Curtis International, and Target after a recalled Frigidaire mini-fridge allegedly caused a fire in a Minnesota office building.
Westfield Insurance Company and Travelers Casualty Insurance Company of America filed suit on April 9, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota. The case names four defendants: Electrolux Consumer Products, Inc., Electrolux North America, Inc., Curtis International, Ltd., and Target Corporation.
The fire, according to the lawsuit, broke out on or about August 31, 2024, at a commercial office building at 6450 Wedgewood Road, Maple Grove, Minnesota, owned by Northco Real Estate Services, LLC. An employee of Prime Advertising & Design, Inc. - a tenant in the building - had purchased a Frigidaire 6-Can Retro Mini Fridge from a Target store in Plymouth, Minnesota, in November 2023 and placed it in a cubicle for everyday use.
On the day of the fire, the building was secured and its security alarm system was armed. At around 3:30pm, a water flow alarm went off, prompting a response from the Maple Grove Fire Department. Firefighters found water discharging from two sprinkler heads and a small fire that the building's fire suppression system had already suppressed. Post-fire analysis, according to the suit, pointed to the mini-fridge - an internal electrical failure caused a short circuit that ignited the surrounding plastic housing and spread to nearby combustible materials.
The fire, heat, smoke, soot, and water damage spread throughout the building, causing substantial damage and forcing an extended shutdown that disrupted business operations for both the property owner and the tenant.
Here is where the case becomes particularly relevant for the industry. Westfield covered the building owner. Travelers covered the tenant. Both carriers paid out on their respective claims and are now pursuing subrogation — seeking to recover those payouts from the parties they allege put a defective product into the market.
The suit raises eleven counts across all four defendants, including strict liability, negligence, failure to warn, and breach of warranty. Each plaintiff is seeking damages in excess of $75,000.
Adding weight to the claims is the fact that Curtis International instituted a recall of Frigidaire 6-Can Retro Mini Fridges on or about July 24, 2025, citing internal electrical components that can short circuit and ignite the surrounding plastic housing, posing fire hazards. That recall was further expanded on January 15, 2026.
The lawsuit alleges that Electrolux owned the Frigidaire trademark, licensed its use, and retained control over design, safety standards, and quality requirements. Curtis is alleged to have manufactured the product overseas and introduced it into US commerce. Target, which sold the mini-fridge at its Plymouth location, is named as a seller in the distribution chain.
The case remains at its earliest stage - no defendant has responded, and no court has made any determination on the merits. Still, for property and casualty carriers with commercial accounts, it is one to watch. With the product recall now expanded, more losses tied to these mini-fridges could surface, and subrogation activity may not be far behind.
