LG Class Action Says Washing Machines Have Water Hammering Defect

LG Electronics USA Inc. is facing a class action lawsuit alleging some of its washing machines have a “water hammering” defect that is caused by a washer valve that closes too fast and causes an annoying knocking noise in the pipes that can damage the pipes and lead to water leakage and related damage.

Plaintiffs Daniel Feinberg, John McBride, Sylvester Scarborough, David Low and Roberta Schiff filed the class action lawsuit yesterday in New Jersey federal court. They claim that the sudden closure of the washer valve causes a pressure spike behind the valve, causing powerful reverberation in the plumbing system until the shock waves are absorbed.

According to the LG washing machine class action lawsuit, the plaintiffs attempted to fix the washer valve defect by applying one or more washing machine arrestors, which are designed to stop banging pipes caused by valves that close too quickly. These water hammer arrestors reportedly cost between $11 and $17 each, plus the amount of time spent installing the water hammer arrestor (or cost of hiring a plumber to install the water hammer arrestor).

The plaintiffs allege LG has sold thousands of washing machines without disclosing to consumers the existence of the water hammering defect. According to the LG washing machine class action lawsuit, LG has known of the problem since at least September 2008 but purposely concealed its knowledge of the water hammering defect. Further, LG has allegedly refused to fix the defects, even when the repairs should have been covered under warranty.

The LG class action lawsuit points to information about the water hammering defect that was previously posted online by LG , but which is allegedly no longer available in the United States.

The plaintiffs say they would not have purchased LG washing machines, or would have paid much less for them, had they known about the water hammering defect.

The LG water hammering defect class action lawsuit was filed on behalf of the plaintiffs and a proposed Class of U.S. residents who purchased, not for resale, one or more of the affected LG washing machines. The plaintiffs also seek to represent a Florida Class, Georgia Class, New Jersey Class, New York Class and Pennsylvania Class.

The LG washing machine models named in the water hammering defect class action lawsuit include (but are not limited to): Model No. WM2501HWA, WM2650HRA, WT1701CV, and WM500HVA.

The LG washing machine class action lawsuit asserts claims for violations of the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act, breach of express warranty, breach of implied warranty, violation of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Federal Act, unjust enrichment, violation of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, violation of the Pennsylvania Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law, violation of the New York Consumer Protection Act, and violation of Georgia consumer protection laws.

The plaintiffs are represented by Benjamin F. Johns of Chimicles & Tikellis LLP, John Yanchunis of Morgan & Morgan Complex Litigation Group, Paul C. Whalen PC of Law Office of Paul C. Whalen PC, Francis J. “Casey” Flynn Jr. of The Law Offices of Francis J. “Casey” Flynn Jr. Esq., and Jasper D. Ward IV and Ashton Rose Smith of Jones Ward PLC.

The LG Washing Machine Defect Class Action Lawsuit is Daniel Feinberg, et al. v. LG Electronics USA Inc., Case No. 2:17-cv-06931-CCC-SCM, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.

UPDATE: The LG Class Action Says Washing Machines Have Water Hammering Defect was dismissed voluntarily by the plaintiffs on July 11, 2018.  Top Class Actions will let our viewers know if a new complaint is filed.