16/12/2010 - Toxic sofa victims receive £1,800
More than 400 people who suffered burns to the skin after buying "toxic sofas" will receive £1,800, a judge ruled.
The compensation payout, which is part of a larger multimillion-pound compensation battle, appears to have brought to an end the saga involving British retailers Argos, Land of Leather, and Walmsleys. Each of 408 claimants - including 55 children - suffered skin complaints caused by the sensitising agent dimethyl fumarate (DMF) in leather sofas manufactured by Chinese companies Linkwise and Eurosofa.
In April, Mr Justice MacDuff was told that an agreement had been reached which meant that around 1,650 other people would receive up to £20 million, with each expected to receive between £1,175 and £9,000, depending on the severity of their symptoms. But now the judge said the resolution of the litigation for the final cohort of 408 was a "very sensible and proper settlement" of their claims.
The EU has now banned the use of DMF after consumers in at least five European countries suffered burns and breathing problems due to the use of the chemical in imported leather products.
Copyright © Press Association 2010
Related links
|
