Manufacturer Expands Dehumidifier Product Recall After Numerous Fire Complaints

Twelve brands of dehumidifiers, covering 2.5 million units, are under product recall from the parent company due to numerous reports of property damage and injury after the machines caught fire, creating the potential for serious burn injuries.

Various sizes of the brands Danby, De’Longhi, Fedders, Fellini, Frigidaire, GE, Gree, Kenmore, Norpole, Premiere, Seabreeze, SoleusAir and SuperClima fall under the product recall. Parent company Gree initiated the recall in September 2013; the dehumidifier recall was recently expanded because of additional reports that the units could catch fire and potentially result in burn injuries.

Property damage costs resulting from fires have exceeded $4.5 million. Overheating incidents increased from 119 to 471, while the number of reported fires increased from 46 to 121.

Gree urges consumers with dehumidifiers affected by the product recall to immediately unplug the unit and return it to Gree for a refund.

Details about sizes and model numbers associated with the dehumidifier product recall can be found on the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website. The dehumidifiers were sold at Sears, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Sam’s Club, and other retailers as well as online at Amazon.com and other websites.

In addition to the US product recall, Gree is recalling 55,000 units in Canada.

Defective Product Recalls and Burn Injury in South Carolina

Every year, thousands of consumers sustain serious injuries from defective products, and improper or delayed product recalls. Many of these injuries could be avoided if the manufacturers or distributors of these products took additional steps to ensure consumer safety, such as issuing product recalls in a timely fashion. Although any product could be subject to a recall due to improper testing, some of the most common product recalls are for automobiles and automotive parts, drugs and medical devices, and children’s toys.

There are a number of reasons that defective products make it to our shelves:

• Defective manufacturing
• Inadequate testing
• Design defects
• Marketing Misrepresentation

To protect yourself and your family, it’s important to know what products have been recalled because they are defective or unsafe. Federal agencies such as the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and the CPSC (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission) frequently issue product recalls for medical devices, drugs, and products that may be harmful to consumers.

Consumers that have been harmed by defective products such as drugs, medical devices, or other products, may be eligible to receive legal remedies. Such legal remedies, or damages, may include compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, loss of physical capacity, pain, suffering, and mental anguish. Punitive damages are also available in many jurisdictions to punish defendants in those cases involving particularly egregious conduct which demonstrates a reckless or wanton disregard for the safety of the public.

The Strom Law Firm Protects Citizens Harmed by Delayed Defective Product Recalls

The attorneys at the Strom Law Firm keep a close watch on recalls of dangerous and defective product recalls in the US. We aim to protect our clients’ health and safety, and hold manufacturers to the highest possible standard of safety. If you or a loved one have experienced severe, life-limiting side effects from a defective product or drug, and believe that your pain stems from a product recall that came too late, you may be entitled to compensation. The Strom Law Firm can help. We offer free, confidential consultations to discuss the facts of your case, so contact us today. 803.252.4800.