The manufacturer of a lithium battery-powered robotic pool vacuum recalled in April is being sued for more than half a million dollars over a June 2025 fire that an insurance company claims caused significant damage to a house in Parker.

Erie Insurance Exchange filed the suit Thursday, Aug. 6, in Butler County Common Pleas Court, seeking in excess of $503,291 for damages. The insurance exchange claims a failure of a lithium battery for a Wybotics S1 high-end cordless robot pool cleaner started a fire June 17, 2025, that damaged the home of Adam and Brady Terwilliger on Maple Furnace Road.

The three-count suit against the California subsidiary of China-based Wybotics includes claims of liability, breach of express or implied warranty and negligence, and demands a jury trial.

The pool cleaner was purchased in 2024 and shipped to the Twilligers, who stored it in a shed adjacent to their pool. The fire started in the shed and spread to the house, according to the suit.

“Investigators identified the cause of the fire as the failure of Lithium 18650 cells contained within the Wybotics S1 high-end cordless robot pool cleaner,” according to the suit.

The suit claims the pool cleaner was the only viable ignition source in the fire’s area of origin, meaning a defect in the cleaner caused the fire.

The fire resulted in significant financial loss to the Twilligers, including the value of their house, its contents, loss of use and extra expenses, according to the suit.

Wybotics recalled its Osprey 700 Max and S1 robotic pool vacuums in April because their lithium-ion batteries can overheat and cause burn and fire hazards to consumers, according to the U.S. Product Safety Commission. About 5,000 units were sold, according to the commission.

Wybotics could not be reached for comment Friday.