Whirlpool Fraud Claims Proceed Over Power of KitchenAid Blenders

Whirlpool Corp. trimmed a proposed multistate class action alleging it misled consumers into believing that KitchenAid blenders are more powerful than they really are, according to an Ohio federal court ruling.

The plaintiffs may proceed with claims under the consumer fraud statutes of Maryland, Virginia, Illinois, Wisconsin, New York and Ohio, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio ruled.

The court rejected Whirlpool’s argument that it included disclaimers that wouldn’t have misled a reasonable consumer.

Whether a representation could deceive such a consumer is a question of fact to be decided by a jury, the court said. ...