Leaders in Consumer Class Action Lawsuits

Poulos LoPiccolo is investigating consumer complaints regarding rust spots appearing on their stainless steel kitchen appliances.  According to consumer complaints, in as little as just a few months after purchase, consumers notice small rust spots on appliances such as the door of their refrigerators.  What’s worse is that surface rust and corrosion is often excluded from the manufacturer’s one-year warranty because it's considered cosmetic.

Based on a news report from 2013 covering this problem, Engineering professors at the University of Cincinnati say some of today's consumer-grade stainless steel has less nickel and chromium in it than just a few years ago, due to rising prices. “That may help explain why magnets stick to a lot of newer stainless appliances, unlike older stainless appliances and cooking pots that have high nickel levels,” said Engineering Professor Dr. Vesselin Shanov.  While they say a magnet should not be considered a "quality" test, Shanov and his colleague, Dr. Vijay Vasudevan, say less nickel and chromium in some cases can mean less protection from corrosion. "If it drops below a certain level, then it could become susceptible to corrosion," explained Vasudevan.