Homeowners with High-Efficiency Carrier Furnaces Receive Protection of Extended Warranty

April 20, 2008, Seattle, WA -- U.S. District Court Judge Ronald B. Leighton granted final approval to a nationwide settlement in a class action lawsuit filed by current and past owners of high-efficiency furnaces manufactured and sold by Carrier Corporation. Nearly three million U.S. consumers purchased the furnaces covered by the settlement. Carrier sold the furnaces under the Carrier, Bryant, Day & Night and Payne brand-names.

The complaint charged that starting in 1989, Carrier began manufacturing and selling high efficiency condensing furnaces manufactured with inferior materials, which caused them to fail prematurely

�It is an outstanding outcome for consumers, and we commend Carrier for stepping forward and taking care of its customers,� stated plaintiffs’ counsel Jonathan D. Selbin of Lieff Cabraser. The settlement provides an enhanced 20-year warranty for consumers whose furnaces have not yet failed. Consumers who paid to repair or replace the allegedly defective part in their high-efficiency Carrier furnaces are eligible for a cash payment as well.

The deadline for class members to submit a claim is August 1, 2008. Claim forms are available online.