Lawfirm says its lawsuits forced IKEA to recall 29 million dressers
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PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia personal injury firm Feldman Shepherd says IKEA was pushed to recall dressers by lawsuits it filed on behalf of the toddlers' families, suits that allege that IKEA designed and sold dangerous and defective dressers, including the MALM dresser line, which do not meet the furniture industry's minimum safety standard for stability. 
 
Earlier today the Consumer Product Safety Commission in cooperation with IKEA North America, recalled 29 million chests and dressers that Feldman Shepherd says do not comply with voluntary stability standards of the furniture industry.
 
Attorney Alan Feldman says this is the first time IKEA has publicly conceded its awareness of at least 79 injuries and deaths caused by furniture tip-overs, which in three cases led to the deaths of three children since 2014. Feldman's firm, Feldman Shepherd, represented the families in each instance "inherently unstable furniture tipped over and crushed the toddlers, pinning them beneath its weight," the firm said in a release promoting its role.
 
The lawsuits filed on behalf of the toddlers' families allege that IKEA designed and sold dangerous and defective dressers, including the MALM dresser line, which do not meet the furniture industry's minimum safety standard for stability.
 
"We applaud the Consumer Products Safety Commission for taking a tough stand in support of consumer product safety, by demanding that IKEA take concrete action to get these defective dressers off the market," said Alan Feldman, lead attorney on the case. "It should not have taken repeated injuries and deaths over many years before IKEA finally responded to the potential hazard it placed in millions of American homes."  
Feldman's firm is located not far from IKEA's U.S. headquarters.

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Bill Esler | ConfSenior Editor

Bill wrote for WoodworkingNetwork.com, FDMC and Closets & Organized Storage magazines. 

Bill's background includes more than 10 years in print manufacturing management, followed by more than 30 years in business reporting on industrial manufacturing in the forest products industries, including printing and packaging at American Printer (Features Editor) and Graphic Arts Monthly (Editor in Chief) magazines; and in secondary wood manufacturing for WoodworkingNetwork.com.

Bill was deeply involved with the launches of the Woodworking Network Leadership Forum, and the 40 Under 40 Awards programs. He currently reports on technology and business trends and develops conference programs.

In addition to his work as a journalist, Bill supports efforts to expand and improve educational opportunities in the manufacturing sectors, including 10 years on the Print & Graphics Scholarship Foundation; six years with the U.S. WoodLinks; and currently on the Woodwork Career Alliance Education Committee. He is also supports the Greater West Town Training Partnership Woodworking Program, which has trained more than 950 adults for industrial wood manufacturing careers. 

Bill volunteers for Foinse Research Station, a biological field station staddling the border of Ireland and Northern Ireland, one of more than 200 members of the Organization of Biological Field Stations.