'Toxic' sofa victims lose claims
Hundreds of customers who bought "toxic" sofas which allegedly caused rashes and burns will not receive compensation from the manufacturers' insurers, the High Court has ruled.
More than 300 customers were involved in the claim that the Chinese-made sofas they had bought from Land of Leather caused skin rashes and burns that were caused by a toxic chemical used in the manufacturing process.
The chemical - dimethyl fumerate - is banned in the EU due to health concerns.
The action has now hit a major stumbling block after Mr Justice Teare, sitting at the High Court, ruled that the claimants would not receive compensation from Zurich Insurance, Land of Leather's insurance company.
Richard Langton, a senior litigation partner at Russell Jones and Walker, representing the claimants, said the High Court's decision was a "devastating blow".
Mr Langton added that unless the decision was overturned by the Court of Appeal, a "great injustice will have been done".
In addition, the law firm is representing a further 4,000 people who have also allegedly been affected by the sofas which were purchased from Land of Leather, Walmsley Furnishing and Argos.