An 80-year-old woman died one month after her Sleep Number bed suddenly moved without warning and trapped her against a wall for two days last year, a new lawsuit alleges.
Rosalind Walker was trapped on March 1, 2023, when her Sleep Number bed, which had its adjustable foundation in a raised position, “lowered without warning” and trapped her between the bed and the wall of her bedroom in Godfrey, Illinois, her daughter, Angela Moan, says in a complaint filed Tuesday.
The complaint says the bed suddenly “lowered with such force” that Walker was stuck and unable to free herself.
She remained stuck in that position in the bedroom until March 3, when first responders finally released her.
She was taken to a hospital, then transferred to a rehabilitation center and taken home on hospice care, the filing says.
“She suffered the entire time until she died on April 3, 2023,” the petition says.
Moan filed the wrongful death complaint in St. Louis County, Missouri, court against Sleep Number Corp. and Leggett & Platt Inc., both of which designed, manufactured, marketed, sold and warrantied the bed.
Walker bought the bed, which had a 25-year warranty, in Brentwood, Missouri, on Oct. 19, 2014. It was later delivered to Walker’s home in Godfrey.
The complaint claims the defendants breached their duty by selling the bed without adequate instructions or cautionary language warning that a person could get stuck between the bed and a wall, failed to have an audible warning system to alert that the bed was declining, and lacked "an appropriate release mechanism that would have allowed Walker to free herself."
“Sleep Number Corporation is strictly liable for Mrs. Walker’s injuries, her suffering, and her death,” the complaint says. “The Sleep Number Bed was defective and unreasonably dangerous in its design and lack of warning.”
Moan alleges negligence, wrongful death, strict liability and breach of warranty. The suit seeks compensation for Walker's death, suffering and injuries, related medical bills and "the loss of her mother’s society."
It seeks compensation more than the jurisdictional amount of $25,000.
Sleep Number said Thursday it is aware of the lawsuit.
"We understand that this incident is alleged to have occurred in March 2023; we were notified of the alleged incident after the lawsuit was filed this week, December 10. We extend our sincere condolences to the family of Ms. Walker for their tragic loss," the statement said. "Currently, our legal team is reviewing the lawsuit. Sleep Number stands by the design and safety of its products and is complying with any necessary inquiries or actions."
Leggett & Platt, the manufacturer of the adjustable base, said Friday the Dec. 10 filing was their first notice of the incident.
“First and foremost, we want to extend our condolences to the family of Ms. Walker. We take all incidents seriously and are committed to fully understanding the circumstances surrounding this situation," Jennifer Davis, the Executive Vice President of General Counsel, said. "Our legal team is reviewing the available information and is committed to providing our full cooperation with the legal process.”
Ted Gianaris, an attorney for Moan, told NBC News on Thursday that the bed's manufacturers should have better systems to avoid entrapment, just as elevators have sensors to keep closing force low to prevent injuries.
“By design, this bed has a timer that lets it lower on its own, but it has no alert, no sensor, and no release,” he said.
“This is a tragic loss of a vibrant woman who was completely independent. Mrs. Walker was trapped for two days and then she later died. Something as common as an adjustable bed should not be a trap," Gianaris said. "We look forward to hearing from the corporations about why they did not sell a safer bed.”