The family of an 80-year-old woman has taken legal action against a bed manufacturer, asserting that her death was caused by being trapped in the bed for two days.
On April 3, 2023, Rosalind ‘Roz’ Walker passed away at her Illinois home, surrounded by her family.
A wrongful death lawsuit, filed in St Louis County, claims that her death occurred after the grandmother became trapped in a bed that malfunctioned.
Walker’s daughter, Angela Moan, has initiated the lawsuit against Sleep Number, known for its ‘innovative mattresses, pillows, and smart beds’ as stated on their website, along with the bed’s manufacturer, Leggett & Platt Inc.
According to The Post, Walker had purchased a bed from the manufacturer a decade before her death, which allegedly came with a 25-year warranty.
The suit alleges that on March 1 of the previous year, Walker’s mattress ‘suddenly lowered itself without warning,’ trapping her against the wall for two days until emergency services found her and took her to the hospital.
The lawsuit details that Walker sustained unspecified injuries, and after hospital treatment, she was moved to a rehabilitation center before returning home with hospice care.
It accuses Sleep Number and Leggett & Platt Inc of failing to provide adequate instructions or warnings about the risk of getting trapped between the bed and the wall.
The lawsuit seeks an unspecified amount for medical expenses and the emotional impact on Walker’s family, who have also paid tribute to her online.
According to the website of Elias, Kallal and Schaff funeral homes, Walker was born on October 29, 1942, in Chicago.
She married her partner on March 24, 1963, who unfortunately passed away in 2009.
“Roz was a Charter member of Resurrection Lutheran Church of Godfrey, IL and a member of Chapter GG of PEO sisterhood. She loved working in her yard, traveling, and playing cards. Roz was very active within the community and was a fierce and loyal friend and will be missed by many,” the website describes.
Walker is survived by her daughter and two grandchildren.
A representative from Sleep Number has since commented on the lawsuit.
The spokesperson for Sleep Number told The Post: “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.”