An 80-year-old woman tragically died after a freak bed accident.
Rosalind Walker died on April 3, 2023, following injuries she sustained after being trapped in an adjustable Sleep Number bed for two days, according to a lawsuit recently filed by her daughter.
The tragedy has triggered legal action against Sleep Number Corporation and Leggett & Platt Incorporated, the companies responsible for designing and manufacturing the bed.
Court documents filed on December 10, 2024, in St. Louis County allege that Walker purchased the Sleep Number bed in October 2014 from a store in Brentwood, Missouri, per People.
The bed came with a 25-year warranty, and Walker had been using it in her home in Godfrey, Illinois.
Yet on March 1, 2023, nearly a decade after the purchase, the bed’s adjustable foundation reportedly malfunctioned, creating a dire situation for the 80-year-old.
The lawsuit claims that the bed’s foundation unexpectedly ‘lowered without warning,’ trapping Walker between the bed and her bedroom wall.
She remained stuck in this position for two days before emergency responders were able to rescue her on March 3, 2023.
By the time she was freed, Walker had suffered extensive injuries.
She was initially taken to the hospital, later transferred to a rehabilitation center, and eventually returned home under hospice care.
According to the lawsuit: “She suffered the entire time until she died on April 3, 2023.”
The court filings accuse the companies of failing to provide adequate warnings or instructions about the potential risks associated with the bed.
The documents state that the bed ‘lowered with such force as to trap Mrs. Walker’ and lacked ‘an appropriate release mechanism’ that could have allowed her to escape the position.
The suit also alleges the bed’s timer caused it to decline automatically, without any physical input or warning, contributing to the accident.
Walker’s daughter, Angela Moan, is seeking compensation for her mother’s injuries, medical expenses, and the loss of her companionship.
“This negligence was the proximate cause of Mrs. Walker’s injuries [and] suffering,” the lawsuit states.
Moan is requesting an amount ‘fair and reasonable’ exceeding $25,000 and any additional relief deemed appropriate by the court.
A spokesperson for Sleep Number addressed the lawsuit in a statement, saying: “Sleep Number is aware of the recent lawsuit filed against the company and Leggett & Platt, the manufacturer of its adjustable base.
“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.”
The company added: “Currently, our legal team is reviewing the lawsuit. Sleep Number stands by the design and safety of its products and is complying with any necessary inquiries or actions.”
Attorney Ted Gianaris, representing Moan, commented on the case, calling it a ‘tragic loss of a vibrant woman who was completely independent.’
He emphasized the preventability of such incidents, saying: “Something as common as an adjustable bed should not be a trap. We look forward to hearing from Sleep Number about why it did not sell a safer bed.”
