Re: Electric Blanket Fires

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On 2/03/09, angie wrote:
> On 5/14/08, m jones wrote:
>> On 2/15/08, Barbara F Lamb wrote:
>>> On 1/26/06, George McLaughlin wrote:
>>>> I am interested in hearing from anyone who has had an
>>>> experience with an electric blanket catching fire, or
>>>> overheating to the point of causing scorching or a serious
>>>> burn. If you were the victim I am interested in the facts
>>>> of your incident. If you are a lawyer and have such a case
>>>> I have information that you may find helpful. My email
>>>> is: gmclaughlin@mhmlawfirm.com
>>>
>>> I had a sunbeam Queen size electric blanket set fire to my
>>> bed (aka mattress)last year. Both the blanket and controller
>>> were defective. The controller survived deformed from the
>>> heat inside of it but with a hole out the bottom that
>> started
>>> the fire. The controller that caught fire was on the
>> opposite
>>> side of the bed from me and the one on my side started to
>>> flash it's light on and off. I tried to turn it off but it
>>> would not shut off, i crawled accross the bed to pull the
>>> plug and the other controller which was setting the fire
>>> showed a flash of white light as i pulled the plug. I
>> reached
>>> down and picked up the hot controller burning my hand before
>>> i could drop it. Not worrying about the pain i ran for water
>>> to put the fire out. After putting the fire out as far as i
>>> could see i kept a fire vigil all night in case the fire was
>>> still smoldering inside the mattress and could start up
>> again
>>> due to spontaneos combustion from the inside. The mattress
>> is
>>> or was a Simmons beauty rest black lable top of the line
>>> mattress with a ten year warranty full replacement for
>>> everything except fire. The failure of the controller also
>>> damaged my electric clock,computer scanner,Laser Printer and
>>> computer interface card. Since a replacement mattress will
>> be
>>> thicker than my present mattress due to the manufacturers
>>> bigger is better policy the base the mattress sits on will
>>> have to be modified by a cabinet maker or a finish
>> carpenter.
>>> The estimated damages will probably come to about Seven
>>> thousand dollars just for those items.
>>>
>>> I reported to the claims adjuster (Executive Solutions)
>>> Jarden/Sunbeam that i was suffering nightmares and loss of
>>> sleep and would like to get closure on the claim. At first
>>> they ignored me,then when i kept calling back they had a
>>> supervisor talk to me and she offered $712 which is about
>> ten
>>> percent of losses. That was a price for a cheap mattress off
>>> the internet. She refused to talk of the other items let
>>> alone the trama. I mentioned suing and she said the only
>> time
>>> they will even consider settling with me would be when they
>>> have the lawsuit papers in their hands.
>>>
>>> Theres more , but that is enough for now
>> On 4/13/08 my house burned down because of a Sunbeam electric
>> blanket. I am amazed to find out that there has been several
>> lawsuits against Sunbeam related to their faulty electric
>> blankets. My estimated damage to just repair my home is
>> $189,000 my insurance company has offered me $89,000 needless
>> to say they are suing Sunbeam and going to recoup who knows
>> how much!!!! I am told by my insurance co to not sue Sunbeam
>> because it might affect them recouping their money. Ha!