Up to 2,000 people could be in line to share a £20 million
payout after being injured by "toxic" sofas imported from China,
the High Court heard.
An agreement has been agreed by solicitors which paves the way
for "swift" payouts for hundreds of customers, a judge in London
heard.
Mr Justice MacDuff was told that a "claims handling agreement"
had been reached which could "potentially benefit" between 1,500
and 2,000 claimants.
He heard that the agreement did not resolve the whole of the
litigation surrounding the purchase of the sofas and
product liability, but that it would "open the way to swift
compensation for many hundreds" of people.
The victims of the toxic sofas, which caused "serious burns",
are expected to receive between £1,175 and £9,000, depending on the
severity of their symptoms.
Legal action is still ongoing in 3,000 cases where liability
remains in dispute.
Lawyers for claimants in what is believed to be the largest
consumer group litigation in UK legal history say they suffered
painful medical complaints due to the presence of the "highly
sensitising" chemical DMF - dimethyl fumarate - in leather sofas
manufactured by Chinese companies Linkwise and Eurosofa.
They were said to have suffered severe skin or eye complaints,
breathing difficulties or other medical complications after
exposure to the chemical.
The group action was launched against the three retailers of the
affected sofas - Argos, Land of Leather and Walmsleys - all of whom
admitted liability.