Boca Raton Man Sues Best Buy, Claims Critical Refrigerator Injury
BY: LITIGATION DESK | BocaNewsNow.com
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2024 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — A Boca Raton man and his wife are suing Best Buy and its delivery services after an allegedly botched installation led to a falling refrigerator and critical injuries. Robert and Lynne Schneider of Boca Raton just filed the suit against Best Buy Co., Inc.; Pillar Logistics, LLC; and Zaldivar's Delivery Corp.
According to the complaint obtained by BocaNewsNow.com , the Schneiders purchased a Thermador T36BT925NS French Door refrigerator from Best Buy for $12,801 to be installed during a kitchen renovation in their home. According to the suit, Zaldivar's Delivery Corp. never secured the huge refrigerator to the wall — or anything — when it was installed. That led to this claim republished from the lawsuit:
"On June 11, 2023, only fifteen days after installation, Robert and Lynne were having lunch in their kitchen. Robert approached the Thermador to retrieve certain items from the fridge. Because the Thermador requires a significant amount of force to open the doors, Robert pulled the doors with one hand on each handle. The Thermador tipped forward and fell on Robert when he was pulling on the fridge's handles to open the door. When the doors popped open, the door to Robert's right struck him in the face. Robert is five foot five inches tall and 137 pounds. Having been struck in the face by the door, Robert was now trapped between the Thermador and the kitchen island right across from the fridge. As Robert backed away from the tipping fridge, his back struck the kitchen island. Before he could escape, the Thermador's heavy drawers slipped out, struck Robert in the chest, and pushed him back into the kitchen island. Before he could escape, the Thermador's heavy drawers slipped out, struck Robert in the chest, and pushed him back into the kitchen island. The Thermador descended into the kitchen island, pressing against Robert, who became wedged under the fridge.
On June 11, 2023, immediately after the Thermador tipped over and struck Robert, Lynne drove her husband to Boca Raton Regional Hospital's Emergency Room. As a result of the tip-over, Robert suffered injuries to his head, back, left arm, and neck. Robert's injuries have had a profound and distressing impact on his intimate relationship with Lynne, his wife of 41 years.
The physical pain and limitations resulting from his injuries have made it incredibly challenging for him to engage in the level of physical intimacy he once enjoyed with Lynne. Simple acts of affection and closeness have become fraught with discomfort, leaving him feeling frustrated and disconnected. The emotional toll of Robert's injuries has cast a shadow over his self-esteem and confidence, making it difficult for him to feel desirable or meet Lynne's emotional and physical needs."
The suit seeks in excess of $50,000 which is the statutory minimum for filing a lawsuit in Palm Beach County Circuit Court. Best Buy has not filed a response processed by the Palm Beach County Clerk of Courts as of 9 a.m. Saturday. The Schneiders are represented by the Law Offices of Mike Amad, P.A., in Boca Raton, and the firm of El Rashidy and Hagoo, LLP, of Fort Lauderdale.
