Two federal appeals courts and the U.S. Supreme Court have all refused to block consumer class actions over allegedly mold-prone Whirlpool Corp. washing machines. Whirlpool’s lawyers at Bartlit Beck Herman Palenchar & Scott fared much better at trial, persuading a Cleveland federal jury on Thursday to reject claims that the company is liable for selling the machines.
Thursday’s verdict, which followed just two hours of deliberation, came in the first bellwether trial in a dozen statewide class actions against the Benton Harbor, Mich.-based company. Whirlpool sold millions of the front-loading washers across the country. The plaintiffs say the machines are defective, accumulating mold and requiring expensive maintenance to reduce its smelly effects.
