This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-51017438
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Ikea to pay family $46m after child killed by falling drawers | Ikea to pay family $46m after child killed by falling drawers |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The Swedish furniture giant Ikea has agreed to pay $46m (£35m) to the parents of a child who was killed when a chest of drawers fell on him. | The Swedish furniture giant Ikea has agreed to pay $46m (£35m) to the parents of a child who was killed when a chest of drawers fell on him. |
Jozef Dudek, 2, suffocated in May 2017 when the company's Malm drawers toppled over at the family's California home. | Jozef Dudek, 2, suffocated in May 2017 when the company's Malm drawers toppled over at the family's California home. |
The item, which weighs 70lbs (32kg), had been recalled a year earlier over safety concerns after three other children were killed. | The item, which weighs 70lbs (32kg), had been recalled a year earlier over safety concerns after three other children were killed. |
It is the largest child wrongful death settlement in US history, lawyers say. | It is the largest child wrongful death settlement in US history, lawyers say. |
"While no settlement can alter the tragic events that brought us here, for the sake of the family and all involved, we're grateful that this litigation has reached a resolution," a spokeswoman for Ikea said. | "While no settlement can alter the tragic events that brought us here, for the sake of the family and all involved, we're grateful that this litigation has reached a resolution," a spokeswoman for Ikea said. |
"We remain committed to working... to address this very important home safety issue," she added. | "We remain committed to working... to address this very important home safety issue," she added. |
In a statement, the child's parents, Joleen and Craig Dudek, said they were "devastated" by the loss of their son. | In a statement, the child's parents, Joleen and Craig Dudek, said they were "devastated" by the loss of their son. |
"We never thought that a two-year-old could cause a dresser just 30 inches (76cm) high to topple over and suffocate him," they said. "It was only later that we learned that [it] was unstable by design." | "We never thought that a two-year-old could cause a dresser just 30 inches (76cm) high to topple over and suffocate him," they said. "It was only later that we learned that [it] was unstable by design." |
"We are telling our story because we do not want this to happen to another family," the couple added. They urged anyone who still has a recalled Ikea dresser to return it. | "We are telling our story because we do not want this to happen to another family," the couple added. They urged anyone who still has a recalled Ikea dresser to return it. |
The family also said they would donate $1m of the settlement to groups working to protect children from dangerous products. | The family also said they would donate $1m of the settlement to groups working to protect children from dangerous products. |
In 2016, Ikea recalled millions of Malm chests of drawers in North America over safety concerns. It was the largest recall in the company's history. | In 2016, Ikea recalled millions of Malm chests of drawers in North America over safety concerns. It was the largest recall in the company's history. |
Initially, the company warned customers to use wall mounts with them, but the death of a third child prompted the action. | |
Camden Ellis, 2, Curren Collas, 2, and 23-month-old Ted McGee were all crushed by the product. | Camden Ellis, 2, Curren Collas, 2, and 23-month-old Ted McGee were all crushed by the product. |
In December of that year, the company agreed to pay $50m (£40m) in a combined settlement to the families of the three toddlers. | In December of that year, the company agreed to pay $50m (£40m) in a combined settlement to the families of the three toddlers. |
Under that settlement, Ikea agreed to only sell chests in the US that meet or exceed the national voluntary safety standard for clothing storage units. | Under that settlement, Ikea agreed to only sell chests in the US that meet or exceed the national voluntary safety standard for clothing storage units. |
The deaths prompted the US Consumer Product Safety Commission to launch an education campaign about the risk of falling chests of drawers. | The deaths prompted the US Consumer Product Safety Commission to launch an education campaign about the risk of falling chests of drawers. |
In 2017, the company re-launched the recall in the US and Canada. It said items in its Malm range and other chests and dressers pose a "serious tip-over and entrapment hazard" if not secured to a wall. | In 2017, the company re-launched the recall in the US and Canada. It said items in its Malm range and other chests and dressers pose a "serious tip-over and entrapment hazard" if not secured to a wall. |
Recent large US compensation awards: |
Previous version
1
Next version