Apple Valley Family Involved in $50 Million IKEA Settlement

A firm representing the families of three toddlers who were killed by IKEA furniture tip-overs, including a family from Apple Valley, announced an agreement Wednesday to settle all three wrongful death claims for the sum of $50 million. In February, Ted McGee was asphyxiated when a six-drawer MALM dresser toppled over on him in his bedroom in Apple Valley.

Like the other boys, Ted was just 2 years of age.

• Apple Valley Couple Speaks Out About Child's Deadly Dresser

The $50 million will be evenly divided among the three families, according to a news release. In addition, as part of the settlement IKEA has further agreed as follows:

• IKEA will donate $50,000 to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia in memory of Curren Collas, $50,000 to a children's hospital in Washington State in memory of Camden Ellis, and $50,000 to a children's hospital in Minnesota in memory of Ted McGee.
• IKEA will donate $100,000 to Shane's Foundation NFP, an organization devoted to children's safety with a focus on furniture tip-over prevention and education.
• IKEA agrees to only sell chests and dressers in the United States that meet or exceed the performance requirements of ASTM F2057-14, the national voluntary safety standard for clothing storage units.
• IKEA will increase funding for its "Secure It" program to raise awareness of the risk of tip-overs, to include national television advertisements, internet and digital communications and in-store warnings.

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar released a statement on the settlement, saying: "IKEA has taken some responsibility for these deaths both through the settlement and the biggest furniture recall in the history of America. The danger furniture tip-overs pose goes beyond IKEA’s Malm dressers. Until we have effective standards in place, kids will continue to be at risk of injuries and death."

"We need to pass my bill to prevent any further tragedies, ensure stronger standards across the board, and protect our children," Klobuchar added.

Earlier this year, Klobuchar introduced the Stop Tip-over of Unstable, Risky Dressers on Youth (STURDY) Act. The legislation would direct the CPSC to adopt a stronger, mandatory stability standard for storage units, including chests, bureaus, and dressers, which are a major category of furniture at risk for tipping over.

Image via PR Newswire