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Ikea has reached a $50 million settlement with the families of three toddlers, including one from the Twin Cities, who died after unsecured Ikea dressers tipped over, according to lawyers for the families. The furniture giant confirms a settlement has been reached, but describes it as "tentative."

The money will be divided evenly between the families, the lawyers say. The settlement also calls for Ikea to meet voluntary safety standards for dressers, donate $150,000 to children's hospitals and $100,000 to a children's safety organization, and to invest more money in its "Secure It" program raising awareness about tip-over risk.

The settlement comes after three toddlers died in the past three years from tip-over incidents involving unsecured MALM dressers. Curren Collas and Camden Ellis died in 2014, prompting Ikea to launch the "Secure It" program and offer 

 died the same way in February. All three children were about 2 years old when they died.

voluntary recall of 29 million chests and drawers

The families brought a wrongful death lawsuit against the company, alleging that Ikea "had consistently refused to meet voluntary national safety standards" and "refused to re-design its furniture products to be more stable and tip-resistant," according to the family's lawyers.

Ikea confirmed with NPR that a "tentative settlement has been reached" in the case, but said it would not comment further because the deal had not been approved by the court.

 it's a relief the case is over, but that the settlement doesn't bring closure.

"Your life, it will always be cut in half," Collas told the newspaper. "Even if I live until 100, it's going to be before Curren and after Curren."

 tip-overs have caused dozens of accidents, in addition to the three deaths in this case:


The Inquirer has reported extensively on the issue of tip-over hazards; you can find much more information on the accidents in its 

Disasters

Ikea has reached a $50 million settlement with the families of three toddlers who died after unsecured Ikea dressers tipped over, according to lawyers for the families.

Camden Ellis, Curren Collas and Ted McGee

Ikea to pay $50M to Twin Cities family, 2 others from dresser tip-over deaths

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