Charleston workers’ compensation lawyers are pleased to report that eight of the nine families of the nine Charleston County Firefighters killed in the 2007 Sofa Super Store fire have reached a partial settlement. The partial settlement is more than $1.2 million dollars, with several companies claiming that they were negligent in the deaths of the families’ loved ones.
Thirty companies were initially alleged at fault for the Sofa Super Store fire, and all but four companies have agreed to settlements. An attorney involved in the case said the final figure in the latest round of settlements was close to $1.5 million dollars. This brings the total amount of money companies have agreed to pay to the families to $8.4 million dollars.
Some of the companies who have settled were furniture manufacturers whose furniture was being sold in the Sofa Super Store when the fire occurred on June 18, 2007. The families alleged that the manufactures products contained polyurethane foam, a highly flammable material, and failed to warn the retail store. These companies products increased the risk of a potential fire.
Two of the remaining defendants that have yet to reach a settlement are the Sofa Super Store itself and Goldstein Family Limited Partnership, the Sofa Super Store operator. Charleston accident attorneys working on the case hope to reach a settlement out of court but are prepared to go to court if found needed. Source: The Post and Courier- “8 of 9 families reach partial settlement.” March 9, 2010
