October 25, 2013

KitchenAid Refrigerator Energy Efficiency Case Moves Forward

On October 25, 2013, Judge Troy L. Nunley of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California allowed class action claims to move forward against the makers of the KitchenAid KSRG25FV and KSRS25RV refrigerators. The lawsuit alleges that Whirlpool misrepresented the energy efficiency of the KitchenAid KSRG25FV and KSRS25RV refrigerators by promoting them as ENERGY STAR-qualified and labeling them with the ENERGY STAR logo. In fact, the United States Department of Energy found that the refrigerators did not meet the ENERGY STAR standards for energy efficiency. Judge Nunley ruled “that Plaintiffs have set forth factual allegations that if proven true would support their contention that Defendant either intentionally misrepresented the energy efficiency of its product or intentionally labeled the products with information that it had not verified as accurate.”

“We are pleased that Judge Nunley allowed the case to move forward so that purchasers of these mislabeled refrigerators can seek class certification,” said L. Timothy Fisher, one of the firm’s partners handling the matter.