Midwest Furniture Chain Faces Lawsuit Over Contractor's Sexual Assault of Child During Installation
Furniture store sued after one of its contractors molested 8-year-old girl while on a job
A major Midwest furniture retailer is defending itself in court after one of its contractors pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting an 8-year-old girl during a carpet installation appointment. The Accurso Law Firm initiated legal proceedings on Monday in Missouri on behalf of the victim and her family against Nebraska Furniture Mart, following the guilty plea by contractor Enrique L. Martinez, 63, to charges of child sexual abuse.
Circumstances of the incident
Police responded to the family's residence in Peculiar, Missouri in June 2025 after authorities were notified that the child had been assaulted. According to law enforcement records, Martinez and his installation crew were working on carpet in the home when the contractor isolated the girl and committed the sexual assault. The girl's family had purchased the carpet from Nebraska Furniture Mart in June 2025, believing it would be installed by trained employees of the furniture chain.
Martinez was formally charged with multiple child sexual offenses last June. In January, he entered a guilty plea to two counts of statutory sodomy involving a child under 12 years of age. He was subsequently sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Allegations against the furniture chain
The lawsuit contends that Nebraska Furniture Mart failed to execute an adequate background investigation on Martinez. According to the legal filing, a thorough screening would have revealed that Martinez was prohibited from legally working in the United States and was utilizing someone else's Social Security number.
After learning of the allegations against Martinez, the furniture chain declined to complete the family's carpet installation and revoked their customer status, according to court documents.
Furniture chain's response
Nastasia Williams, Kansas City Store Director for Nebraska Furniture Mart, issued a statement to The Independent expressing sympathy for the victim and family while categorically denying the allegations against the company.
"Our hearts go out to the victim and their family. We share the sadness and shock at the details that resulted in the conviction of a third-party contractor's helper," Williams stated.
The store director emphasized the company's commitment to safety protocols, noting that "throughout our more than 85 years in business, NFM has prided itself on our Core Values of Integrity and Honesty while providing quality products and services to all our customers."
Williams added that Nebraska Furniture Mart "maintains longstanding processes related to background checks, safety measures, and accountability that exceed industry standards" and that the company's "commitment to ensuring the safety of our customers and team members is unwavering."
Regarding the specific allegations contained in the lawsuit, Williams stated that they "are not true," while declining to provide additional details "out of respect for the privacy of those involved and because this is an ongoing legal matter."