Gov. Cuomo signs Harper's Law to prevent furniture deaths

Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed Harper's Law Tuesday.

News 12 Staff

Aug 14, 2019, 12:09 AM

Updated 1,889 days ago

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A Hudson Valley family is using the tragic death of their toddler to help protect other young children.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed Harper's Law Tuesday. It is named after Aaron Fried's 3-year-old daughter who died in 2016 after being pinned under her dresser at their Harriman home.
The law requires all new furniture sold in the state to be sold with anchors to secure it to the wall.
The Frieds have worked to pass the potentially lifesaving law since Harper's death. They even launched a nonprofit called Harper Smiles to educate parents about furniture tip-over safety.
They want Harper to be remembered, and help ensure no other parent has to lose a child to this hidden danger.
Last month, a young girl was struck and killed by a falling cabinet at a school in the Kiryas Joel Union Free School District. Police say 8-year-old Ruchy Friedrich got up on a chair to reach something on the cabinet when it toppled on her. She suffered fatal head injuries.