Family of Michigan Boy Killed in Hyperbaric Chamber Files $100M Suit

The parents of a 5-year-old boy killed in a hyperbaric chamber explosion earlier this year have filed a $100 million lawsuit, claiming the tragedy was the result of gross negligence.

What Happened at The Oxford Center

Thomas Cooper died on January 31 when the chamber at The Oxford Center in Troy exploded. He had been undergoing treatment for ADHD and sleep apnea, though the FDA does not recognize hyperbaric therapy as an approved treatment for those conditions.

His mother, who was in the room at the time of the blast, suffered burns while trying to save him.

Lawsuit Targets Manufacturer and Staff

According to WXYZ-TV, the lawsuit names Sechrist Industries, the California-based manufacturer of the chamber, as well as several employees connected to the center. Attorneys for the family allege the device lacked critical fire safety systems — including fire suppression, hazard warnings, and emergency extraction features.

The suit also claims the chamber was operated without proper licensing, inspections, or trained medical supervision. Investigators say the center routinely used the machine for conditions such as ADHD and sleep apnea, which are not FDA-approved uses for hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Attorney: Safety Warnings Were Missing

Fieger Law attorney James Harrington is representing the family. In the 28-page complaint, Harrington said there were no verbal warnings or posted signs outlining the risks.

“They were designed and manufactured without fire suppression. They were designed and manufactured without any type of deluge system — which is a water system that can help extinguish a fire,” Harrington said.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has called the treatment “unsupported by medical science,” accusing the facility of prioritizing profit over patient safety.

The lawsuit argues Thomas’s death was not an unforeseeable accident, but an outcome that was “inevitable and virtually certain” due to what it calls reckless practices.