WASHINGTON, Dec. 23 (UPI) — Swedish furniture manufacturer Ikea agreed to a $50 million arbitration settlement with the families of three toddlers who were killed when dressers tipped onto them.
The settlement will be split evenly between the three families and includes financial donations to foundations set up in memory of each of the 2-year-old children who were killed. Additionally, Ikea agreed as part of the settlement to abide by voluntary safety standards adopted by other manufacturers for furniture meant to prevent fatal tip-over accidents involving young children.
Lawyers for the three families said they had evidence that could have been used at trial that Ikea was aware its MALM line of dressers was prone to tipping over and had caused previous fatal accidents, but neglected to redesign them.
Ikea issued a recall for 29 million furniture units in June over tip-over accident concerns.
The settlement was reached after a two-day mediation session before U.S. Magistrate Judge Diane Welsh.
