Samsung Class Action Alleges Refrigerators Fail To Maintain Safe Temperature

Samsung Refrigerator Class Action Lawsuit Overview:

• Who: Two customers filed a class action lawsuit against Samsung. 
• Why: Certain Samsung refrigerators with French doors allegedly contain a defect that causes temperatures to rise inside, keeping food at an unsafe temperature.
• Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in New Jersey federal court.

Two Samsung customers are suing the South Korean electronics giant and its American offshoot for allegedly defective refrigerators that “pose unreasonable risks of property damage and serious personal injury during normal use” by running above temperatures for safe food storage. 

The refrigerators in question have varying model numbers, but all are made with French doors and a bottom freezer.

The plaintiffs are Matthew Jordan and Lisa Saghy, both of whom bought new Samsung refrigerators. In both plaintiffs’ experiences, repairs by a Samsung technician failed to remedy the temperature issue. Now, they claim Samsung refuses to provide more repairs, replacement or refund. 

Jordan and Saghy seek to represent a nationwide class, a California subclass, and a Pennsylvania subclass to include all residents who bought a new Samsung refrigerator or otherwise acquired one, primarily for household use and not for resale.

Samsung Tech Allegedly Admits Refrigerator Defect ‘Cannot Be Fixed’

Jordan bought his new Samsung refrigerator for $1,298 in 2020. After a few months, he began to notice food in the bottom of the refrigerator was frozen while the top of the refrigerator held a “temperature that was too high to be safe for food storage,” according to the complaint.

Saghy bought her new Samsung refrigerator in 2017 for $2,256. In January 2022, she began to notice the refrigerator was not keeping food and drinks as cold as before and ice was forming on the back panel. In March, a technician told Saghy the temperature issue was “a known defect” and “cannot be fixed,” according to the complaint.

The Samsung class action lawsuit alleges the company knew about the temperature defect but concealed it from consumers while continuing to sell the product.

Between January 2019 and December 2021, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) received over 600 complaints about Samsung refrigerators, according to court documents. At least 211 complaints cited food spoilage; 62 cited food poisoning, according to Consumer Reports.

Did you purchase a Samsung refrigerator with French doors that doesn’t keep your food cold? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiffs are represented by James E. Cecchi, Lindsey H. Taylor, and Donald A. Ecklund of Carella, Byrne, Cecchi, Olstein, Brody & Agnello PC and Jonathan D. Selbin and Jason L. Lichtman of Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein LLP.

The Samsung Refrigerator Class Action Lawsuit is Jordan, et al. v. Samsung Electronics America Inc., et al., Case No. 2:22-cv-02828, in the US District Court for the District of New Jersey.

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