Re: Electric Blanket Fires

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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!