Who is a Class Member
You are included in the the Sears Craftsman Riding Lawn Tractor class action settlement “if between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2015, you purchased from Sears, Roebuck and Co. (“Sears”) in the United States, certain new Craftsman® Riding Lawn Tractors for primarily personal use.”
The exact model numbers are listed here.
If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other class action settlements you may be eligible for.
Estimated Award
- Free inspections, repairs and/or up to $125 cash
Class Members can receive free inspections and repairs of fuel leaks or loose fuel line connections up to three times by an authorized mechanic. Claimants can also receive $125 in reimbursements for costs associated with repairing their CRLT.
Proof of Purchase
- If you are requesting reimbursement, you will need to submit documentation of your out-of-pocket expenses, along with your Claim Form. Additionally, your wil need to provide proof of ownership of their CRLT such as photographs, credit card statements, receipts, etc.
Claim Form
Sears Craftsman Riding Lawn Tractor Settlement Notes
- Rysewyk, et al. v. Sears Holdings Corporation, et al.
- Case No. 1:15-cv-04519
- Pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
In 2015, four named plaintiffs filed this class action lawsuit against Sears alleging the company designed, manufactured, marketed, and sold riding lawn mowers and lawn tractors under the Craftsman name that have a serious, dangerous safety defect.
Specifically, the complaint states that the Sears Craftsman Riding Lawn Tractors have a fuel line line that is inadequately secured and can dislodge from the gas tank during use. This can result in a gasoline leak that can ignite and cause fire while the lawn mowers are in use or just after the they are stored after use, thus putting both the users and their real and personal property at risk of harm from resulting fire.
“At all relevant times, Sears knew or should have known of the Defect but nevertheless sold the Lawnmowers to consumers, failed to warn consumers of the serious safety risks that the Defect posed, and failed to recall these dangerously defective Lawnmowers despite the risks to life and property that they pose,” the Sears Craftsman Riding Lawn Tractor class action asserts.
One plaintiff claims that his Sears CRLT caught fire just after he walked away after mowing his property. He was contacted by his neighbors that told him that his detached garage was on fire. The burning mower burned the detached garage to the ground, melted the siding of his house, and burned the back of his truck. In addition, his tools, car parts, and other equipment and personal property were destroyed by the fire. Although he has insurance, it will not fully compensate him for all of his losses. He has not yet received a final settlement with his insurance company.
Sears contends that the CRLTs do not have the defects alleged and deny that they violated any law, engaged in any wrongdoing, or owe any liability in this case to the plaintiffs or to anyone else. Complete details about the case and settlement are provided on the Sears Craftsman Riding Lawn Tractor settlement website.
Important Dates
- 12/19/18: Claim Form Deadline
- 11/19/18: Objection or Exclusion Deadline
- 1/29/19: Final Hearing at 10:30 am CST* (class members do not need to attend this hearing in order to receive a slice of the settlement pie).
*Settlement Class Members who wish to speak at the hearing should check www.CRLTSettlement.com to confirm that the date or time of the Hearing has not been changed.
Contact Information
- Mail: CRLT Settlement, 1650 Arch Street, Suite 2210, Philadelphia, PA 19103
- Phone: 1-877-411-5712
- Email: info@CRLTSettlement.com
Class Counsel
- Edward A. Wallace and Andrew D. Welker of Wexler Wallace LLP
- Gregory F. Coleman and Mark E. Silvey of Greg Coleman Law PC
- Shanon J. Carson and Michael T. Fantini of Berger & Montague PC
Settlement Website