Boston Church Insurers Sue Whirlpool Over Refrigerator Fire

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston claims in a $10 million lawsuit filed against Whirlpool Corp. that a faulty refrigerator caused a fire that destroyed a Weymouth, Mass., church.

The complaint filed in Norfolk Superior Court alleges Sacred Heart Church was destroyed on June 9, 2005, because of Whirlpool’s negligence.

The complaint claims the Michigan company knew it subjected the 134-year-old church to an “unreasonable risk of harm.”

The archdiocese said in a statement that the suit was initiated by its insurers, which covered the more than $10 million cost of rebuilding the church.

Whirlpool attorney David Fialkow says he still is investigating.

Fire officials identified the refrigerator as the cause of the seven-alarm blaze.