Louisville Ladder Class Action Lawsuit Alleges Recalled Attic Ladders Pose Serious Fall Hazard

Federal regulators announced the Louisville Ladder recall earlier this year, affecting more than 1.7 million Century, Featherlite, Lite and Louisville attic stairway ladders.

A New York man has filed a class action lawsuit alleging recalled Louisville Ladder attic ladders were sold with defective gas strut bolts that may break and create a serious fall hazard.

The complaint (PDF) was brought by Robert Magro in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York on August 26, naming Louisville Ladder Inc. as the defendant.

Magro is seeking class action status on behalf of consumers in New York and nationwide who purchased the recalled attic ladders and were allegedly exposed to the associated safety risks.

Louisville Ladder Injuries

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced a Louisville Ladder recall on August 6, involving more than 1.7 million Century, Featherlite, Lite and Louisville Attic Stairway Ladders equipped with gas struts. The ladders were recalled because bolts in the gas strut assembly may break, creating a risk that users could fall and suffer serious injuries.

At the time of the recall, Louisville Ladder had received 11 reports of bolts breaking, including one incident that resulted in neck, head and back injuries. The affected ladders were sold from November 2012 through July 2026.

The recall adds to broader concerns about injuries involving Louisville Ladder products, including claims that other ladder models have also failed during normal use.

In April, a product liability lawsuit alleged a Massachusetts man suffered spinal injuries and nerve damage after a 15-foot Louisville Ladder collapsed while he was near the top.

Louisville Ladder Defect Allegations

According to Magro’s lawsuit, certain Louisville Attic Stairway Ladders contain a serious defect in which the bolts on the ladder are prone to breaking and may fail while the ladders are in use. This defect could allegedly lead to the potential for falls and severe injuries.

Magro claims Louisville Ladders are marketed as safe and capable of supporting users weighing up to 375 pounds, depending on the model. However, the lawsuit alleges those representations fail to disclose that defective gas strut bolts may break under normal use, potentially causing the ladder to collapse even when used within the stated weight limits.

The lawsuit maintains that this defect makes the ladders unreasonably dangerous and unsuitable for their intended purpose. It further alleges Louisville Ladder knew or should have discovered the problem during the design, testing and manufacturing process.

Magro also claims the company should have been aware of the defect after receiving multiple reports of bolt failures and related injuries. According to the lawsuit, Louisville Ladder allowed the affected products to remain on the market for years before issuing the recall, continuing to expose consumers to the risk of falls and serious injuries.

The complaint also criticizes the recall remedy, alleging Louisville Ladder offered only a repair kit and required consumers to perform or arrange the necessary work themselves, rather than providing refunds for the recalled ladders. Magro argues the remedy is “woefully ineffective and insufficient to make consumers whole” and improperly limits the company’s financial responsibility for the defective products.

“Defendant engaged in deceptive and unfair business practices by representing that its Products were safe, high-quality ladders, while omitting the material fact that the Products contained, or risked containing, defective gas strut bolts prone to breaking.”

— Robert Magro v. Louisville Ladder Inc.

The lawsuit raises allegations of violation of New York General Business Law, negligence, unjust enrichment and breach of express warranty. It seeks certification of class action status, and for class members to be awarded statutory, compensatory, incidental, consequential and punitive damages.

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