Compensation Claims Case Awarded to Toxic Sofa Victims
Consumers left with excruciating injuries due to toxic fumes as a result of their sofas are set to finally receive compensation.
Compensation claims lawyers representing victims from South Wales and almost 2,000 others from across the UK, are awaiting London’s High Court judgement on how much the home and general merchandise retailer and the insurers for defunct sofa manufacturer will be paying out.
The compensation claims litigation launched is the largest group action for a consumer product in the UK. This is a result of the burn-like injuries many people received to their skin after using the sofas.
It is thought that when people sat on the sofas their body heat vapourised dimethyl fumarate, the chemical used to stop sofas from getting damp, and penetrated their clothes.
Many people found that the skin on various parts of the bodies went red and started to peel.
The skin kept peeling off and falling onto the carpet until the victims had no choice but to throw away their clothes. When similar cases came to light in various parts of the country, it was confirmed that the sofas are the culprit.
Earlier this year, the case was adjourned when doubt emerged over whether the insurers for the manufacturers would pay out. The exact sum to be compensated now is not clear but it is thought the compensation claims bill could run into millions.
Updated on 9/23/2009