PHILADELPHIA – The estate of Kintnersville woman alleges that her property was damaged when a dehumidifier caught fire.
The estate of Elizabeth Leonard filed a complaint on Dec. 5 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against Gree USA Inc., MJC America LTD, Gree Electric Appliances Inc. of Zhuhai, and Hong Kong Gree Electric Appliances Sales LTD alleging negligence.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff's property was damaged by fire on Nov. 30, 2016, as a result of the defendants' defective SoleusAir powered by Gree dehumidifier. The suit states the appliance's failure caused it to "erupt into flames."
The suit states that the defendants sold several brands of dehumidifiers, including the SoleusAir, with the UL safety certification mark when the appliances did not meet UL flammability standards.
The plaintiff holds the defendants responsible because the defendants allegedly knew or should have known that the dehumidifier created unreasonable safety risks and failed to warn consumers.
The plaintiff seeks damages in the amount that exceeds $150,000, delay damages, punitive damages, court costs and any further relief the court grants. It is represented by Richard J. Boyd Jr. of de Luca Levine LLC in Blue Bell.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania case number 2:17-cv-05448-CMR