A Juicy Couture branded step stool from a Ross Dress for Less store in Las Vegas is now at the center of a wrongful-death case in Clark County District Court.
The estate of Jude Anthony Sanchez filed suit on June 11, 2026, alleging the branded step stool collapsed under him as he stood in the bed of his pickup, causing a fall that ultimately proved fatal. Sanchez died on Aug. 23, 2025. The Clark County coroner later listed his cause of death as complications from multiple rib fractures and ruled the death an accident. The complaint names Ross Dress for Less and Juicy Couture as defendants and seeks compensation for medical care, treatment and other related losses.
According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the suit says Sanchez bought the Juicy Couture step stool at the Ross store at 2100 N. Rainbow Blvd., Suite 110, and that the platform collapsed when he stepped onto it. The estate is demanding a jury trial and pleads causes of action including wrongful death, negligence, strict liability and breach of warranty. It seeks special and general damages in excess of $15,000 for medical care, treatment and related expenses.
The Clark County coroner’s office recorded the cause of death as “complications from multiple rib fractures” and classified the manner of death as “an accident,” the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports. Public obituary listings show Sanchez’s date of death as Aug. 23, 2025. Ross and Authentic Brands Group, which controls the Juicy Couture label, did not immediately respond to requests for comment, according to the reporting.
What the complaint alleges
The lawsuit describes the step stool as failing during ordinary use and accuses the retailer and brand of placing an unsafe product into the stream of commerce. It alleges that the stool was defective in its manufacture or design and that the defendants failed to provide adequate warnings or to ensure it could be safely assembled and used. To win, the estate will have to prove that the product was defective and that the defect caused the injuries that led to Sanchez’s death.
Legal context
Under Nevada law, heirs and personal representatives may bring wrongful-death claims pursuant to NRS 41.085, and the statute of limitations for personal-injury and wrongful-death actions is generally set by NRS 11.190. In product-liability suits in Nevada, plaintiffs typically assert strict-liability, negligence and breach-of-warranty theories. Local practice guides note that plaintiffs must establish the existence of a defect and a causal connection to their injuries in order to recover. Corena Law outlines the usual elements and filing deadlines for such claims.
What’s next
The case is in its early stages, and the court is expected to set a schedule for responses, discovery and any hearings. Filings in Clark County District Court will clarify the parties’ positions as the lawsuit moves forward.
