Couple sues Sears over flooded house

WHEELING – A Wheeling couple is suing Sears, claiming an employee improperly hooked up a water line to a new refrigerator and flooded their home.

Charles Beecher and Darlene Kay Beecher filed a lawsuit in Ohio Circuit Court against Sears, Roebuck and Co.

The Beechers claim that on April 16, 2008, they bought a Kenmore brand refrigerator at the Sears store in Banfield, Ohio.

The plaintiffs paid an additional $85 to have the appliance delivered and installed, the complaint says.

The day after buying the refrigerator, the plaintiffs claim that Sears employees delivered the appliance, but said they couldn't hook it up to a water line because they didn't have the appropriate hardware.

Charles Beecher says he called the Sears employee who sold him the appliance, Dave Clark, and told him that the refrigerator hadn't been installed.

According to the complaint, Clark came to the Beecher home on May 8, 2008 and purported to connect the refrigerator to a water line.

When Charles Beecher got home from work later that day – about 4-5 hours after Clark allegedly hooked it up – he found that his home had been flooded.

Charles Beecher says he called the store and told them about the water damage. He then spoke to Sears managers Jim Dunkin and Wally Lenton and offered to let them come out and see the damage for themselves.

The plaintiffs say both managers declined and the company has refused to accept responsibility for the damage.

The Beechers say the flooding has caused about $8,552 in water damage and want compensated.

Daniel M. Taylor Jr. is representing the plaintiffs.

Ohio Circuit Court case number: 09-C-157