Design Defect Prompts Recall of Dressers Manufactured by Ikea
Ikea, the Swedish furniture company known throughout the world, announced that it will be recalling more than 27 million dressers due to serious safety risks posed by the furniture item. Moreover, the product recall will be followed by a discontinuation of the furniture as an item being produced by Ikea.
The product line is known as the Malm dresser. Any consumers who own the Malm dressers are asked to return the items for a complete refund.
The reason for the recall is a design defect that has reportedly caused three children in the United States to die after Malm dressers fell on top of them. The kids were reportedly crushed underneath the dressers.
It is believed that the specific design defect with the furniture item is related to a top-heavy design, which makes the dressers prone to toppling over and causing serious physical injuries and property damage.
The recall is being issued voluntarily by the Swedish furniture behemoth, with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission merely providing guidance throughout the process. However, the voluntary nature of the product recall likely has something to do with the potential liability of Ikea in future personal injury lawsuits and wrongful death lawsuits related to the defective item.
With the massive product recall expected to affect over 27 million dressers, one government official commented that the recall was “unprecedented.â€
The Malm dresser was extremely popular among consumers because it was reasonably priced and allowed for storage of many different types of clothing items, such as socks and t-shirts.
For more information, read the Gizmodo.com article, “Ikea Is Discontinuing Some Malm Dressers, Recalling 27 Million Units.â€
If you or a loved one has suffered a serious injury due to use of a defective consumer product, you should speak with a qualified product liability attorney immediately. The experienced, knowledgeable personal injury and product liability lawyers at Lombardi & Lombardi can help you get the compensation you deserve. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation at one of our offices in Edison, Brick or Freehold, New Jersey.