As recently reported, a county-run New York nursing home has agreed, along with several other companies, to settle a lawsuit stemming from the death of a 90 year-old nun that died after a 200 pound dresser fell on top of her.

As the article explains in detail, the nun, who was a resident in the nursing home, suffered a fractured skull after a freestanding closet came crashing down while she was allegedly reaching for an item on the top shelf.

In addition to paying the largest portion of the $900,000 settlement to the victim’s family, the nursing home also has reportedly faced approximately $30,000 in penalties from the state in light of reports that the nursing home was aware of two prior incidents of these closets toppling over (one of which apparently happened a mere matter of weeks before this incident) and, although those particular closets were bolted to the wall, nothing was ever done to ensure that all such closets were properly secured.

The family responded by filing a wrongful death lawsuit against the county that runs the facility as well as the manufacturer of the closet and two companies that allegedly installed it — one of which is an Illinois corporation.

All parties to the lawsuit have reportedly settled, which appears to have brought an end to yet another tragedy that could have seemingly been avoided.

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