Rengue Step Ladder Lawsuit Filed Over Allegedly Defective Design

Lawsuit alleges Amazon failed to protect consumers from a defective Rengue step ladder sold on its website, which caused a user to suffer severe injuries.

A Nevada man has filed a lawsuit claiming a defective step ladder sold on Amazon failed, causing him to fall and suffer serious injuries that required hospitalization.

The complaint (PDF) was brought by Robert Wright in Nevada District Court on May 23, naming Amazon.com Services LLC and Amazon.com NV Investment Holdings LLC as defendants. The case was removed to the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada on June 26.

Wright claims that a Rengue 6 Step Aluminum Folding Step Ladder sold on Amazon buckled, broke, bent or otherwise failed, resulting in injuries, hospitalization and surgery to place a rod in his femur and screws in his arm.

Amazon Ladder Collapse Risks

The lawsuit is one of several recent claims raising concerns about the safety of ladders sold through Amazon, with plaintiffs alleging that unstable or defectively designed products collapsed during normal use and caused serious injuries.

In May, a New York man filed a similar Amazon ladder collapse lawsuit, claiming that a LEVELEVE ladder sold through the website collapsed while he was using it, causing him to fall from a height of more than 18 feet.

In both cases, plaintiffs allege that Amazon sold defectively designed and unreasonably dangerous products and failed to provide adequate warnings about the potential risks.

Amazon Step Ladder Injury Allegations

According to the complaint, Wright purchased a Rengue 6 Step Aluminum Folding Step Ladder through Amazon.com in May 2024. The ladder was allegedly marketed as being made with high-strength, high-quality materials and capable of supporting more than 330 pounds.

Wright, who weighed less than 300 pounds, claims he was using the ladder later that month when it failed as he was climbing down, causing him to fall and suffer serious injuries.

The lawsuit indicates Wright required surgery to place a rod in his femur and screws in his arm, was hospitalized for several days, and continues to experience pain and suffering. The complaint seeks damages in excess of $15,000.

Wright alleges Amazon continued selling Rengue products, including ladders, despite publicly representing that it monitors product safety on its platform and uses customer feedback to identify and address potentially dangerous items.

The complaint claims the ladder was defectively designed, manufactured and/or marketed, making it unsafe and unreasonably dangerous. It also alleges the product was sold with false, inadequate or misleading warnings, advertising and representations.

“Defendants, and each of them, had knowledge that people like Plaintiff would get seriously injured from falling during use, yet willfully and deliberately failed to engage in acts to avoid those consequences.“

— Robert Wright v. Amazon.com Services LLC et al.

The lawsuit raises allegations of strict product liability, breach of warranty, negligence and negligent hiring, training, supervision and retention. 

It seeks general, special, compensatory and punitive damages, including medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, attorneys’ fees, pre- and post-judgment interest and other relief deemed appropriate by the court.

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