Settlement Reached In Woman's Death At Store

The family of an Edmonds woman who was killed by a falling pallet of floor tiles at the Lynnwood HomeBase warehouse store last year has reached a financial settlement with the company.

Jack Vale, husband of the 46-year-old victim, Betty Vale, said the terms of the settlement prevent him from disclosing any details, but he said he is pleased the situation was settled without a court battle.

The attorney representing Vale and his family had been negotiating with the warehouse-style retailer since last year and completed an agreement late last month. Both the amount of the settlement and the method of disbursement cannot be revealed, Vale said.

In addition to the family's settlement, HomeBase made a $25,000 contribution in Betty Vale's name to the Antonio Terry Memorial Fund, Vale said. Terry, a Seattle Police detective, was fatally shot June 4 on an Interstate 5 offramp. Jack Vale was once a Seattle Police officer.

Betty and Jack Vale were standing in an aisle at the Lynnwood HomeBase on April 9 when a pallet collapsed and 2,730 pounds of floor tiles crashed down on her. Jack Vale was not injured.

The accident prompted a monthlong investigation by the state Department of Labor and Industries into nine Washington home-supplies-warehouse retailers. Despite some problems with how merchandise is displayed, warehouse stores do not pose an imminent danger to shoppers, according to study.

HomeBase was fined $4,900 for safety violations. The violations were for forklift operators who were not adequately supervised and for some materials being stacked too high, according to a Labor and Industries report.