IKEA Targeted In New Complaint After Toddler Death

For the second time in a year, IKEA has been named as a defendant in connection with a fatal tip-over accident involving the popular MALM dresser.  A Bothell, Washington family claims that in June of 2014 a three-drawer MALM unit toppled onto their two-year-old son.  After four days on a ventilator, the toddler was removed from life support.  Just four months earlier, a West Chester, Pennsylvania toddler was killed in a similar accident according to court records.  Both families have launched wrongful death and negligence actions against the Scandinavian furniture maker.

Although IKEA has not yet ordered an outright recall of the MALM dresser series, in July it unveiled a “repair program,” whereby purchasers can receive – free of charge – a restraint kit to secure their MALM dresser to a wall. The deaths of both toddlers were cited by IKEA, who announced the program in cooperation with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).  According to the CPSC, the restraint kit will be provided for the MALM three and four drawer chests, two styles of MALM 6-drawer chests, as well as other IKEA items that present a tip-over risk.

To that end, IKEA maintains that all children’s chests and dressers taller than 23 ½ inches and all adult chests and dressers taller than 29 ½ inches should not be used until they have been anchored to a wall. The repair program constitutes a form of recall under the CPSC’s regulations, but to date IKEA has taken no steps to replace or buy back any of its chests and dressers due to safety concerns.  Approximately 27 million chests and dressers sold by IKEA are covered by the repair program according to the CPSC. The latest lawsuit against IKEA, filed in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, seeks compensative and punitive damages covering pain and suffering, emotional distress and funeral and medical expenses in connection with the death of the Washington toddler.

Philadelphia Wrongful Death Lawyers at Galfand Berger Represent Victims of Unsafe Products

Tip-over accidents involving furniture and televisions send an estimated 38,000 Americans to emergency rooms each year, and kill one child every two weeks according to the CPSC. If you or a loved one has been injured by falling furniture, the experienced Philadelphia wrongful death lawyers at Galfand Berger can help.  With offices in Philadelphia, Reading and Bethlehem, we serve clients throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey.  Call 800-222-8792 or complete an online questionnaire to schedule your free consultation today.