A dryer settlement class action lawsuit has been filed against Electrolux Home Products Inc. alleging certain dryer models of Frigidaire, Kenmore, Kelvinator, Gibson, Tappan, Crosley, and White Westinghouse brands to be defective. This defect makes the models vulnerable to catching fire from lint build-up. As per the class-action lawsuit, the company was negligent, breached warranties, unlawfully profited from the sale of dryers, and violated consumer protection laws. The “ball-hitch” clothes dryers designed and manufactured by Electrolux carry uniform and dangerous effects causing them to fail, catch fire, char clothes, and spread fire outside damaging property and causing a safety risk to the public. The plaintiffs have added that Electrolux dryers contain a design defect causing lint accumulation behind the drum close to the heat source. This can ignite and travel into the drum reaching the combustible plastic air duct and blower housing to ignite the lint deposits. All the plaintiffs alleged that their Electrolux dryers caught fire over several months in 2012 and the appliance manufacturer had knowledge about the inherent risks associated with the lint trap.
It was noted in the class action lawsuit that testing Electrolux dryers carried out in 1998 established the defect in its design and how that permitted quick spreading of fire outside the dryer cabinet. Irrespective of all these red flags, the company decided to sell millions of these dangerous dryers to consumers of which numerous caught fire. With time, this led to an internal investigation by the company regarding the potential dryer fire and lint trap. Both the plaintiffs and the defendants produced numerous documents by the end of 2013. Following two days of conversations with a mediator, a class action settlement was reached for all the eligible class members. While the company has denied all allegations of wrongdoing, it has decided to settle the class-action lawsuit to avoid the unnecessary expense and risk associated with further litigation.
Consumers who bought freestanding clothes dryers between 1st January 2002 and 31st December 2011 are eligible for the settlement benefits. Class Members can enjoy a maximum claim of $1300 if they experienced a clothes dryer fire. Else they will enjoy a class rebate ranging up to $350 off the replacement price of a Frigidaire-brand or Electrolux-brand clothes dryer or similar home appliance.
Eligibility For Making Claim: Class Members under the Electrolux Dryer lawsuit settlement includes all persons in the United States who either currently own or had previously purchased a new Frigidaire, White Westinghouse, Kelvinator, Gibson, Tappan, Crosley, or Kenmore brand ball-hitch freestanding clothes dryer manufactured between 1st January 2002 and 31st December 2011 by Electrolux. This dryer settlement will also include two subclasses comprising of class members who are going to experience a dryer fire in the future or have experienced dryer fire already.
Proof Of Purchase: Serial number of the device or similar identifying information.
Settlement Website: DryerSettlement.com
Claim Form: Electrolux Dryer Settlement (kccllc.net)
Final Hearing Date: 8/18/2014
Potential Claim Amount: The following benefits shall be offered to the Class Members qualifying under the Electrolux class action settlement:
- A cash rebate or online voucher worth $350 which can be availed as a discount while purchasing a new Electrolux or Frigidaire brand home appliance or product, and/or
- Up to $1300 for out-of-pocket expenses incurred due to fire in a dryer.
- Free of cost dryer cleaning service for all eligible dryers.
Electrolux has agreed to send a safety notice to all identifiable Class members stating that lint build-up inside dryers is normal and this needs to be cleaned every 18 months by an authorized service professional.
Deadline For Submitting Claim: As per the 30th April motion for preliminary approval of the class action settlement, the claims have to be submitted by the later of 200 days following the date of the preliminary approval or 15th December 2014. The last date for filing a claim for reimbursement on account of damages caused by future fires is 31st December 2022. The deadline for objecting to or excluding oneself from the settlement has passed.