Debra Allen of Raleys solicitors, who has been representing a number of victims of injury by the so called ‘toxic sofas,’ has welcomed news that furniture retailers have been instructed to pay out as much as £20 million in personal injury compensation to consumers who suffered rashes and chemical burns after buying sofas which were laced with the toxic chemical DMF, which is banned in furniture production in the EU.
Ms. Allen hailed the ruling “another step towards justice being done” for the victims who “suffered a lot of discomfort, distress and inconvenience because they were unlucky enough to buy a sofa contaminated with a banned substance.”
The court was asked to approve a tariff setting out the amount the defendant companies will have to pay in compensation to non-severe claims. Non-severe claims are considered to be those where the symptoms lasted less than eighteen months and where inpatient hospital treatment was not deemed necessary. Debra also added that this ruling only applies to cases where liability has been accepted. Disputed liability claims and serious injury claims will be considered in future hearings.
The ruling should mean that victims will get prompt and fair compensation for their suffering. In total over 4,000 claims have been made in the UK for injuries allegedly caused by DMF in sofas.
The ruling does not apply to consumers who bought their sofas at Land of Leather, because the High Court ruled last month that the retailer’s insurers shouldn’t have to pay compensation. That decision is being challenged in an appeal.