Lead plaintiff Charles Leach asserted in a class action lawsuit that Honeywell’s TrueSTEAM humidifiers possess a serious flaw that causes scalding hot water to leak from the device. Not only does the defect create the potential for burns, Leach claimed leaked water from the humidifier caused water damage in his home. Moreover, Leach claimed the Honeywell humidifier produces excessive mineral scaling and that Honeywell failed to honor the company’s warranty policy for fixing defective products.
With a motion for dismissal presented by Honeywell in November of 2014, a federal judge narrowed the claims of “negligent misrepresentation” and “breach of warranty,” but the judge allowed the class action lawsuit to continue based on other legal arguments. Leach represented the first of several plaintiffs to charge Honeywell in a class action lawsuit. Plaintiffs Mark Riley and Robert Burke later filed a class action lawsuit against Honeywell in Pennsylvania. Subsequent similar class action lawsuits were heard in Missouri and Massachusetts.
In December 2016, the plaintiffs in other Honeywell cases asked for temporary stays, after Leach reached a class action settlement with Honeywell. The temporary stays expedited resolution of the remaining class action lawsuits. Plaintiffs outside of the Leach class action settlement proposed to seek resolution of their cases via the Leach settlement.
The Leach settlement does not require Honeywell to admit liability, as the company continues to deny fault for manufacturing and selling the defective humidifiers.
What You Need To Know
Members of the Honeywell class action settlement include consumers in the United States and territories who owned a Honeywell TrueSTEAM humidifier between January 1, 2008 and April 14, 2017. Class members can either receive a new Honeywell humidifier or earn a cash payment of $30, $35, or $40 depending on the size of the TrueSTEAM humidifier purchased. Proof of purchase is a photograph of the bar code and serial number found on the TrueSTEAM humidifier label. You also need to submit a receipt or invoice with your valid and timely claim form. Consumers who had repair work performed on a TrueSTEAM humidifier must include the service receipt.
Class members have until November 6, 2017 to file acclaim form. A judge has set the final hearing for Charles Leach v. Honeywell International Inc., Case No: 1:14-CV-12245-LTS, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts on September 7, 2017. Stay on top of the latest class action settlement news by visiting the website www.TrueSTEAMHumidifierSettlement.com. Class counsel includes attorneys from the law firms Haulden Law, Cuneo Gilbert & Laduca LLP, Audet & Partners LLP, The Chaikin Law Firm, and Parker Waichman. Honeywell has hired attorneys from Stinson Leonard Street LLP and Nixon Peabody LLP to provide defense counsel.
