A tragic incident has led to a wrongful death lawsuit against Sealy Mattress after the body of a Georgia man, Joshua Armour, was discovered locked inside a trailer at one of the company’s facilities. Armour, who had been experiencing a mental health crisis, wandered onto the property, and his family alleges that Sealy’s actions contributed to his death.
Family’s Desperate Search Ends in Tragedy
Joshua Armour, 27, went missing in October, and his family desperately searched for him throughout the night. As their search continued, phone location data placed Armour at a Sealy Mattress facility in Conyers, Georgia, located southeast of Atlanta. Concerned for his well-being, the family contacted the company and informed a supervisor that Armour may be on the premises.
The family claims that after being notified, Sealy employees took swift action—not to search for the missing man but to lock all the trailers on the property. The lawsuit states that the trailers, once locked, could not be opened from the inside. Despite the grave concern of the family, the company’s primary response was to secure the property, not to locate Armour.
The suit contends that Sealy’s decision to lock the trailers, while disregarding the family’s urgent pleas, directly led to Armour’s tragic death. “Sealy did absolutely nothing to locate or protect Joshua,” the lawsuit asserts, adding that the company’s focus was solely on protecting its property rather than ensuring the safety of a person in distress.
Sealy Responds: Investigating the Incident
In response to the lawsuit, Tempur Sealy International expressed sorrow over the death. “We are saddened by the incident, and our deepest sympathies are with the victim’s family and loved ones,” the company said in a statement. They emphasized that they had launched a thorough investigation into the events surrounding Armour’s death and are fully cooperating with local authorities.
While the investigation is ongoing, the lawsuit paints a picture of a company that prioritized its property over human life. Armour’s family insists that their loved one’s death could have been prevented if Sealy had acted differently.
The Pain of Lost Opportunity
Joshua’s family, particularly his brother and sister, are now left to grapple with the devastating consequences of a tragic oversight. The suit alleges that Sealy’s response to the situation was not only neglectful but also outright harmful. The family’s request to search for their loved one was reportedly dismissed, and they were told to leave the premises. This decision has been described as a conscious choice by the company to ignore the potential risk to Armour’s life.
Had the company allowed the family to search, the lawsuit suggests, there might have been a chance to find Joshua before it was too late. Instead, his body was found locked inside one of the trailers, adding a painful layer to the already tragic situation.
Legal and Ethical Implications
The lawsuit against Sealy Mattress raises important questions about corporate responsibility and the duty of care for individuals, especially those who may be vulnerable due to mental health challenges. While Sealy has expressed sympathy for the family, their actions—or lack thereof—are now at the center of a legal battle.
The outcome of this case may set a precedent for how businesses handle situations involving vulnerable individuals, especially when those individuals are on their property. The Armour family is seeking justice, and their legal team argues that the company’s actions—or inactions—were directly responsible for their loved one’s death.
