Woman dies after Sleep Number Bed traps her for two days, lawsuit claims

An 80-year-old woman died one month after her Sleep Number Bed suddenly moved without warning and trapped her against a wall for two days last year, a new lawsuit alleges.

Rosalind Walker got trapped on March 1, 2023 when her Sleep Number Bed, which had its adjustable foundation in a raised position, “lowered without warning” and trapped her between the bed and the wall of her bedroom, according to a complaint filed by her daughter, Angela Moan, on Tuesday.

The complaint said the bed suddenly “lowered with such force” that Walker was stuck and unable to free herself.

She remained stuck in that position in the bedroom of her home in the US state of Illinois until March 3, 2023, when she was finally released by first responders.

She was taken to a hospital, then transferred to a rehabilitation centre and brought home on hospice, according to the filing.

“She suffered the entire time until she died on April 3, 2023,” the petition said.

The wrongful death complaint was filed by her daughter in St. Louis County, Missouri, court against Sleep Number Corporation and Leggett & Platt Incorporated, both of which designed, manufactured, marketed, sold and warrantied the bed.

Walker purchased the Sleep Number Bed in Brentwood, Missouri, on October 19, 2014, and it had a 25-year warranty. That bed was later delivered to Walker’s home in Godfrey.

The complaint claims that the defendants breached their duty by selling the bed without adequate instructions or cautionary language warning that a person could get stuck between the bed and a wall, failed to have an audible warning system to alert that the bed was declining, and lacked “an appropriate release mechanism that would have allowed Walker to free herself”.

“Sleep Number Corporation is strictly liable for Mrs Walker’s injuries, her suffering, and her death,” the complaint said. “The Sleep Number Bed was defective and unreasonably dangerous in its design and lack of warning.”

Moan is suing Sleep Number and Leggett & Platt Inc. alleging negligence, wrongful death, strict liability and breach of warranty. The suit seeks compensation for Walker’s death, suffering and injuries, related medical bills and “for the loss of her mother’s society”.

It seeks compensation in an amount in excess of the jurisdictional amount of $25,000.

NBC News did not immediately hear back from Sleep Number and Leggett & Platt Inc. for comment Thursday afternoon.

Ted Gianaris, an attorney for Moan, told NBC News Thursday that the bed’s manufacturers should have better systems in place to avoid entrapment, just as elevators have sensors to keep closing force low to prevent injuries.

“By design, this bed has a timer that lets it lower on its own, but it has no alert, no sensor, and no release,” he said.

“This is a tragic loss of a vibrant woman who was completely independent. Mrs Walker was trapped for two days and then she later died. Something as common as an adjustable bed should not be a trap,” Gianaris said.

“We look forward to hearing from the corporations about why they did not sell a safer bed.”