Verdicts and Settlements

Product Liability

• Settlement of a nationwide class action against Sears Roebuck & Co. that represents a landmark and virtually unprecedented settlement of a consumer class action case. Under the settlement, Sears will install, free of charge for a class of almost four million customers, anti-tip brackets to prevent tipping accidents of its freestanding electric and gas ranges that frequently cause severe burns, crushing and death. Those customers who already paid to have anti-tip brackets installed will receive reimbursement. Furthermore, Sears will install anti-tip brackets on all sales of new ranges for at least three years, and it is Plaintiffs’ expectation that it will become a permanent practice of Sears. By, in effect, obtaining a recall, this settlement actually obtained better relief than likely could have been obtained through trial and accomplished what the Consumer Product Safety Commission refused to do for over twenty years.