The Whirlpool Corporation is the defendant in a wrongful death suit filed by a man whose young daughter died after her bath water reached a temperature that far exceeded manufacturing recommendations.

The case was filed in Cook County Circuit Court in Illinois against a company that is an international giant, with the claim alleging that the Whirlpool water heater in question was defective, either in its manufacturing, assembly or design.

The man's daughter was two years old in early 2010 when her father states she was suddenly subjected to scalding temperatures as he was bathing her. Upon examination of the water heater following the incident, the Dekalb County Sheriff's Office determined that the water temperature was as high as 138 degrees, which can cause third degree buns in a young child in mere seconds. The U.S. Product Safety Commission recommends that water heaters be set to 120 degrees or less.

After being rushed to the hospital, an intubation tube was inserted into the child's trachea to help her breathe. The wrongful death complaint states that the tube was designed for adults and that its excessive length punctured the girl's stomach, thus being a contributory factor in her death. The hospital and doctor who administered the tube face medical malpractice charges.

The plaintiff's landlord is also named as a defendant, with the complaint alleging that he did not properly maintain the hot water system on the property.

Related Resource: Courthouse News Service, "Dad Sues Whirlpool Over Bathtime Tragedy" May 17, 2011