BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (Legal Newsline) — A class action complaint alleges Stanley Black & Decker's DeWalt brand wet/dry vacuums do not supply the amount of horsepower as labeled.
Michael St. Onge, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, filed a complaint April 25 in the U.S. District Court of Connecticut against Stanley Black & Decker Inc., doing business as DeWalt, alleging breach of express warranty and other claims.
According to St. Onge's class action, the DeWalt brand wet/dry vacuums are falsely labeled and packaged regarding horsepower claims. Specifically, he alleges DeWalt claims the vacuums produce "4 Peak Horsepower" and higher which misleads consumers to believe the vacuums can generate that amount of power.
He futher claims that DeWalt uses the false claims regarding the vacuums' horsepower in order to charge a "substantial price premium" for the products. St. Onge also alleges that its is "physically impossible" for any of the vacuums to reach "anywhere close" to that amount of horsepower output due to the wattages and amperages of the vacuums. He claims the false and misleading horsepower ratings cause consumers to expect that amount for strength and suction ability of the products and causes them to purchase the vacuum over comparable models.
Onge and the class seek monetary relief, interest, trial by jury and all other just relief. They are represented by James Reardon, Jr., of Reardon Scanlon LLP in West Hartford, Conn., and Frederick Klorczyk, III and Neal Deckant of Bursor & Fisher in Walnut Creek, Calif.
U.S. District Court of Connecticut case number 3:23-CV-00516-VAB