Final Approval of Settlement Covering Nearly 1 Million Whirlpool-Manufactured Refrigerators

The United States District Court for the District of Delaware has granted final approval of the nationwide settlement in Costa, et al. v. Whirlpool Corporation, securing substantial relief for approximately 850,000 owners of certain Whirlpool-, Maytag-, KitchenAid-, and Jenn-Air-branded refrigerators affected by freezer-door wire harness failures. The settlement, which is valued at more than $26 million, allows eligible class members to receive cash payments of up to 50% of their refrigerator’s original purchase price, free repairs worth $1,000 or more, reimbursement of past repair and replacement costs, and other valuable benefits.

The settlement also provides future coverage for class members who experience a wire harness failure within seven years of their refrigerator’s in-service date. To maximize access to relief, the claims process was designed to be consumer-friendly, allowing claims to be supported by a broad range of documentation, including photographs of failed wires. In addition, approximately 16,000 consumers were pre-qualified for benefits, reducing the proof required to submit a claim. The settlement received overwhelming support from the class, with no class member objections filed.

CSKD partners Timothy N. Mathews, Scott M. Tucker, and Zachary P. Beatty served as Lead Class Counsel and secured the settlement following more than two years of litigation, extensive discovery, and mediation. Eligible class members can visit www.refrigeratorsettlement.com for additional information and to submit a claim.