Four More Suits in Charleston, SC

Posted by: Curt Varone January 21, 2010 2 Comments

Four more suits have been filed in the aftermath of the Sofa Super Store fire in Charleston, SC on behalf of four Charleston firefighters who fought the June 18, 2007 blaze. The firefighters claim that they have experienced post traumatic stress, depression, and other ailments as a direct result of the negligence of the Sofa Super Store, Inc., the Goldstein Family Limited Partnership, Dupont Performance Elastomers, Feltmann & Associates Inc., Conklin Company, Robinson & Robinson Furniture, Motion-Eaze Recliners, Overnight Sofa Corp., Primo International, Miller Concrete, the Pembrook Chair Corp., and Albany Industries.

The four lawsuits are in addition to at least six prior suits filed against the defendants by firefighters or their estates/families as a result of the Sofa Super Store fire. The four plaintiffs, Matthew Roberts, Gary Taylor, Eric Croft, and Edward Jones III,  are seeking punitive damages in addition to compensation for their actual damages. The cases were filed in the Court of Common Pleas for Charleston County.

The complaint alleges that the defendants were responsible for illegal modifications to the building, the use and installation of highly flammable roofing and ceiling components, and the presence of "unreasonably dangerous and highly flammable" materials in the building.

For more on the story

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
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