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A Dorel Kitchen Step Stool lawsuit has landed in Missouri federal court, where a New York woman is accusing Dorel Home Furnishings Inc. of selling a dangerously flawed product that caused her to fall when its safety handle snapped off.

The plaintiff, Lisa Lam, filed the proposed class action Friday, targeting the company over its Cosco Kitchen Stepper, one of more than 302,000 units recalled in July 2025 for a defect that allows the handle to detach or break while in use.

Defect Allegedly Led to Dozens of Injuries

Lam’s complaint said the flaw stems from a weak connection between the safety bar and the stool’s main frame. According to filings, at least 34 reports of breaks or disconnections had surfaced by the time of the suit, several resulting in injuries.

Lam said she bought her Kitchen Stepper because she believed in Dorel’s reputation for reliable household products. But when the stool gave way, she claimed, that trust shattered—both literally and figuratively.

Plaintiff Challenges Recall Remedy

The July recall offered customers a repair kit with a locking mechanism to reinforce the safety bar. Lam contends that this solution falls short, leaving her and thousands of consumers with a devalued and unsafe product.

Even if repaired, Lam argues, the Kitchen Stepper is “worth far less” than the $56 she originally paid because its defect is now public knowledge. She calls the recall remedy insufficient to protect consumers or restore product value.

Class Claims and Legal Strategy

Lam seeks to represent both nationwide and New York classes of Kitchen Stepper buyers. Her claims include design defect, failure to warn, negligence, unjust enrichment, and alleged violations of New York’s General Business Law and the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act.

She is asking for monetary damages and an injunction ordering Dorel to launch an improved recall and notice campaign to adequately inform consumers.

Attorneys and Next Steps

Lam is represented by James J. Rosemergy of Carey Danis & Lowe and Paul J. Doolittle of Poulin Willey Anastopoulo LLC. Counsel information for Dorel was not immediately available.

Representatives for both parties could not be reached Monday for comment.