Motion Seeks To Make Charleston A Defendant In Deadly Furniture Store Fire
Attorneys in South Carolina are going to court to argue motions in a lawsuit following the furniture store fire two years ago in which nine firefighters died. Monday’s hearing comes after attorneys for the Sofa Super Store asked that the city of Charleston be made a defendant. The city says it cannot be a defendant now because claims from the firefighters’ families have been settled through workers’ compensation.
Published: August 3, 2009
CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) - Attorneys in South Carolina are going to court to argue motions in a lawsuit following the furniture store fire two years ago in which nine firefighters died.
Monday’s hearing comes after attorneys for the Sofa Super Store asked that the city of Charleston be made a defendant. The city says it cannot be a defendant now because claims from the firefighters’ families have been settled through workers’ compensation.
Families of eight of the nine firefighters sued the store, contractors and various furniture companies. Last year, 12 defendants settled before trial for $5.6 million divided among the families who sued.
All nine families also each received about $450,000 from workers’ compensation and from a public fund.
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