Woman is killed by her Sleep Number bed, lawsuit says. ‘She suffered the entire time’
_fitted.png "Rosalind Walker died after she was trapped between her Sleep Number bed and her bedroom wall for two days, according to a lawsuit.")
An Illinois woman is suing after she says her mother was pinned between her Sleep Number bed and a wall for two days, leading to her death.
On Oct. 19, 2014, Rosalind Walker bought a Sleep Number bed in Brentwood, Missouri, according to a civil complaint filed on Dec. 10.
The bed came with a 25-year warranty and instructions and was delivered to Walker’s home in Godfrey, Illinois.
On March 1, 2023, the bed’s “adjustable foundation was in a raised position.” Walker was between the bed and her bedroom wall when the bed “lowered without warning,” according to the lawsuit.
Walker was trapped between the bed and the wall for two days, until she was freed on March 3 by emergency responders, the lawsuit said.
Walker was taken to a hospital, then transferred to a rehabilitation center before being released home on Hospice care, the court document said.
On April 3, one month after being found, Walker died, according to the lawsuit.
“She suffered the entire time,” the lawsuit said.
“The suit alleges that a malfunctioning adjustable base purchased in 2014 was a contributing factor in the death of Rosalind Walker. 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 yesterday, December 10. We extend our sincere condolences to the family of Ms. Walker for their tragic loss,” a statement from Sleep Number to McClatchy News said.
Walker, an 80-year-old mother and grandmother, was an active member of the community and “a fierce and loyal friend,” her obituary said.
According to the court document, “Sleep Number Corporation breached the duty of reasonable care” by designing and selling a bed without adequate instructions. There was no cautionary language alerting Walker that she could become trapped if she went in between the bed and the wall, the lawsuit said.
The bed was set on a timer, causing it to decline automatically without warning, the lawsuit said. It also didn’t have a release mechanism that would have allowed Walker to free herself.
“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,” the statement from Sleep Number said.
The lawsuit is asking for an undetermined amount in damages.
This story was originally published December 11, 2024 at 1:41 PM with the headline "Woman is killed by her Sleep Number bed, lawsuit says. ‘She suffered the entire time’."
