A Settlement has been reached with Electrolux Home Products, Inc. (“Electrolux”) about whether the company manufactured freestanding clothes dryers that contain a defect which may cause lint to build up and catch fire. Electrolux denies all of the claims in the lawsuit and maintains that its dryers are not defective. The Court has not decided who is right. Instead, both parties have agreed to settle the case.
The lawsuit claims that the Dryers contain defects that can cause them to catch on fire due to a buildup of lint inside them. The lawsuit further claims that Electrolux breached warranties, was negligent, violated various state consumer protection statutes and unlawfully profited from the sale of the Dryers. Electrolux denies that there is any defect in its Dryers or that the Dryers pose any unreasonable fire hazard to consumers. Electrolux also denies that it violated any law or engaged in any wrongdoing.
The Settlement provides a variety of benefits including free dryer cleaning services to remove lint build-up in the Dryers that may cause fires, up to $1,300 in cash reimbursements for past or future dryer fires, a rebate of up to $350 off the purchase of a new Frigidaire or Electrolux brand clothes dryer (which do not contain the alleged defects) or home appliance, and up to $350 off the purchase of new products from www.ElectroluxAppliances.com. Electrolux will not cap or limit the benefits available under this Settlement. The Settlement also requires Electrolux to publish a customer safety notice informing customers and Settlement Class Members that lint in dryers may build up and increase the risk of fires. The Settlement does not require you to release any personal injury or property damage claims, other than damage to the Dryer itself, you have against Electrolux.
Who’s Eligible
Class Members of the Electrolux dryer class action settlement include all persons in the United States who purchased or currently own a new Frigidaire, White Westinghouse, Kelvinator, Gibson, Tappan, Crosley or Kenmore brand ball-hitch freestanding clothes dryer manufactured by Electrolux between Jan. 1, 2002 and Dec. 31, 2011.
The Electrolux dryer settlement also includes two Subclasses, consisting of Class Members (1) who have experienced a dryer fire and (2) who experience a dryer fire in the future.
Potential Award
The Electrolux class action settlement provides the following benefits to qualifying Class Members:
- A Cash rebate or online voucher code worth up to $350 off the purchase of a new Frigidaire or Electrolux brand home appliance or product; and/or
- A free dryer cleaning service for eligible dryers; and/or
- Up to $1,300 for out-of-pocket expenses due to a fire in a dryer.
Electrolux has also agreed to send a safety notice to identifiable Class Members informing them that lint can build up inside their dryers and that dryers should be cleaned by an authorized service professional at least every 18 months.
Proof of Purchase
Serial number of device (or other identifying information)
Claim Form Deadline
12/15/2014 — Claim filing deadline for dryer cleaning service, reimbursement of past dryer fires, new appliance rebate or new products from Electrolux’s direct-to-consumer website.
12/31/22 — Claim filing deadline for reimbursement of future dryer fires
Case Name
Shawn Roberts, et al. v. Electrolux Home Products Inc., Case No. 8:12-cv-01644-CAS-VBK, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Western Division
Final Hearing
8/18/2014
Settlement Website
Claims Administrator
Electrolux Dryer Settlement Administrator
P.O. Box 43268
Providence, RI 02940-3268
1-888-541-4923
[email protected]
Class Counsel
Edward A. Wallace
Amy E. Keller
Dawn M. Goulet
WEXLER WALLACE LLP
Erin K. Dickinson
Charles J. Crueger
HANSEN REYNOLDS DICKINSON CRUEGER LLC
Gregory F. Coleman
GREG COLEMAN LAW PC
Defense Counsel
Michael T. Williams
Kenneth T. Stalzer
WHEELER TRIGG O’DONNELL LLP
