Sears named in suit over dryer installations

(Crain’s) — Sears Roebuck & Co. is one among four appliance retailers named in a federal lawsuit that claims they were negligent in ignoring fire-hazard warnings by using metal foil and plastic vents when installing dryers.

Home Depot Inc., Lowe’s Cos. and HHGregg Inc. are also named in the complaint filed Wednesday in four U.S. District Courts, including in Northern Illinois. The plaintiffs are seeking class-action status.

The lawsuit claims that all dryer manufacturers instruct owners to use heavy metal vents when setting up the appliance, which also bear labels stating that doing otherwise can lead to a fire or death. The retailers’ installers ignored those warnings, says Paul Geller, a Florida lawyer who is one of five attorneys representing the plaintiffs. None were in the Chicago area; one was in Indiana.

“This is not an innocuous mistake,” Mr. Geller says. “This is a very dangerous and serious mistake.”