TYLER – An East Texas couple is pursuing legal action after a table fan they purchased reportedly caught on fire two years ago.
Jacksonville residents Gustina and Henry Tilley first brought a product liability lawsuit against Sunbeam Products, Inc. and Walmart Stores, Inc. in Cherokee County District Court last Jan. 29.
The case, which is now in Tyler federal court, explains manufacturing and design defects caused the Sunbeam fan to “suddenly burst into flames.”
“Specifically, there was a failure of the motor windings, which started arcing in the fan,” the original petition says. “The fan did not have a fuse within the plugs, which would have shut down the fan when the fuse was tripped.”
According to the plaintiffs, the fire subsequently engulfed two buildings they owned.
Walmart is accused of selling the fan despite its awareness of the defects.
Consequently, the Tilleys seek unspecified monetary damages.
They are represented by Amy C. Wright and Mark W. Moran of the law firm Munck Wilson Mandala, LLP in Dallas.
Tyler Division of the Eastern District of Texas Case No. 6:18-CV-0097