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| Ikea in $50m settlement over child deaths from falling drawers in US | Ikea in $50m settlement over child deaths from falling drawers in US |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Ikea has agreed to pay $50m (£40m) to the families of three toddlers killed in the US by falling chests of drawers, according to lawyers for the families. | Ikea has agreed to pay $50m (£40m) to the families of three toddlers killed in the US by falling chests of drawers, according to lawyers for the families. |
| The lawyers said the payout, one of the biggest of its kind, reflected the seriousness of the case. | The lawyers said the payout, one of the biggest of its kind, reflected the seriousness of the case. |
| Camden Ellis, 2, Curren Collas, 2, and 23-month-old Ted McGee were crushed after Malm drawers from Ikea toppled onto them. | Camden Ellis, 2, Curren Collas, 2, and 23-month-old Ted McGee were crushed after Malm drawers from Ikea toppled onto them. |
| Ikea confirmed a "tentative settlement" had been reached. | Ikea confirmed a "tentative settlement" had been reached. |
| "The settlement is not yet approved by the court and it would be inappropriate for us to comment on it at this time," the Swedish furniture firm said in a statement. | "The settlement is not yet approved by the court and it would be inappropriate for us to comment on it at this time," the Swedish furniture firm said in a statement. |
| In June, Ikea issued a recall for millions of Malm chests of drawers in North America. | In June, Ikea issued a recall for millions of Malm chests of drawers in North America. |
| Initially, the company had warned customers to use wall mounts with them, but the third death in February prompted the recall. | Initially, the company had warned customers to use wall mounts with them, but the third death in February prompted the recall. |
| Lawyers at Feldman Shepherd said the $50m would be split evenly between the families. | Lawyers at Feldman Shepherd said the $50m would be split evenly between the families. |
| They added that, as part of the settlement, Ikea had also agreed to make three separate $50,000 donations to hospitals in memories of the children and a $100,000 contribution to a charity focused on child safety. | They added that, as part of the settlement, Ikea had also agreed to make three separate $50,000 donations to hospitals in memories of the children and a $100,000 contribution to a charity focused on child safety. |
| "This is one of the biggest recoveries in a child death case, a reflection in part of the seriousness of what happened," Alan Feldman, a partner at the law firm, told the BBC. | "This is one of the biggest recoveries in a child death case, a reflection in part of the seriousness of what happened," Alan Feldman, a partner at the law firm, told the BBC. |
| "Three toddlers were crushed to death in three entirely preventable accidents," he added. | "Three toddlers were crushed to death in three entirely preventable accidents," he added. |
| Camden Ellis, from Washington State, was found trapped under a three-drawer Malm in June 2014, the law firm said. | Camden Ellis, from Washington State, was found trapped under a three-drawer Malm in June 2014, the law firm said. |
| Curren Collas, from Pennsylvania, was crushed by a six-drawer Malm in February 2015, and Theodore McGee was killed by the same sized chest a year later. | Curren Collas, from Pennsylvania, was crushed by a six-drawer Malm in February 2015, and Theodore McGee was killed by the same sized chest a year later. |
| Under the settlement, Ikea has agreed to only sell chests in the US that meet or exceed the national voluntary safety standard for clothing storage units, the law firm said. | Under the settlement, Ikea has agreed to only sell chests in the US that meet or exceed the national voluntary safety standard for clothing storage units, the law firm said. |
| It added that Ikea would also spend more to raise awareness of the problem, including TV adverts, internet and digital communications and in-store warnings. | It added that Ikea would also spend more to raise awareness of the problem, including TV adverts, internet and digital communications and in-store warnings. |
| The deaths prompted the US Consumer Product Safety Commission to launch an education campaign about the risk of falling chests of drawers. |