Mom killed by Sleep Number bed, lawsuit says

GODFREY, Ill. (KMOV/Gray News) – A woman is suing Sleep Number after she said a bed caused her mother’s death.

The lawsuit was filed Tuesday by Angela Moan, the daughter of Rosalind Walker, who was allegedly killed by a Sleep Number mattress at her home in Godfrey, Illinois, which is about 40 minutes north of St. Louis.

The lawsuit alleges that on March 1, 2023, Walker had raised her Sleep Number bed’s moveable foundation and was standing between the wall and the bed. The lawsuit said the bed began to lower without warning, pinning Walker against the wall.

According to the lawsuit, Walker was stuck there from March 1 until March 3, when first responders found her.

She was taken to an area hospital for treatment and was later released on hospice care. She died a month later on April 3, 2023, with documents alleging she “suffered the entire time.”

Moan said her mother bought the Sleep Number bed nearly 10 years prior to her death from a store in Brentwood, Missouri – a suburb of St. Louis – on Oct. 14, 2014.

The lawsuit is against Sleep Number Corporations and Leggett & Platt Incorporated, who designed, manufactured, marketed, sold and warrantied the Sleep Number bed.

Moan is suing on the grounds that the bed did not have a clear warning not to get between the wall and the mattress or that it could cause entrapment.

The lawsuit also claims there was no audible warning that the bed was lowering and that the bed moved with enough force to trap Walker. In addition, the bed reportedly moved on a timer without input from Walker, and it did not have a release mechanism that would have allowed Walker to free herself.

The suit also states that the bed was still under a 25-year warranty provided by Leggett & Platt and was being used per the warranty.

A spokesperson for Sleep Number sent KMOV the following statement regarding the lawsuit:

“Sleep Number is aware of the recent lawsuit filed against the company and Leggett and Platt, the manufacturer of its adjustable base. The suit alleges that a malfunctioning adjustable base purchased in 2014 was a contributing factor in the death of Rosalind Walker. We understand that this incident is alleged to have occurred in March 2023; we were notified of the alleged incident after the lawsuit was filed yesterday, December 10. We extend our sincere condolences to the family of Ms. Walker for their tragic loss.

Currently, our legal team is reviewing the lawsuit. Sleep Number stands by the design and safety of its products and is complying with any necessary inquiries or actions.”

KMOV has reached out to Moan’s lawyer for comment and is awaiting a response.