Family Files $30 Million Lawsuit over Fire-prone Bathrobes

October 28, 2009

Hartford, Connecticut - The family of an 80-year-old woman who was burned alive after her chenille bathrobe caught fire has filed wrongful death lawsuit against clothing company Blair LLC.

In a complaint filed before the US District Court in Hartford, Atwilda Brown’s family is seeking $30 million damages against the company for selling robes which did not meet the federal flammability standards.

“I hope this lawsuit will spread awareness to other consumers who still have the chenille robes. This legal action will also answer my question on why it took four years before the company announced a recall”, Brown’s daughter Sharon Davis said.

According to police reports, Brown was making her cup of tea in February 2005 when her newly purchased robe caught fire.

Brown was immediately brought to the hospital but died two weeks after due to complications.

After receiving complaints, Blair announced a massive recall in April that covered all its chenille robes for women. This October, the company expanded its recall which now includes all the garments made from chenille.

In a statement, the US Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) said nine deaths have been linked to Blair’s robes. Most victims were women aged between 70 and 80 years old.

Meanwhile, the consumer agency warns people not to wear the recalled garments which were sold online and in several stores in Delaware and Pennsylvania between July 2000 and April 2007.