More firefighters' families file suitBy Ron Menchaca (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Two more families of firefighters killed in the Sofa Super Store blaze have filed lawsuits against the store's owner, several furniture manufacturers and other companies, alleging the businesses were negligent in the deaths of their loved ones. The suits were filed Tuesday on behalf of Lauren B. Mulkey, widow of Capt. Louis Mulkey, and Raymond C. Cofield Jr., father-in-law of Capt. Mike Benke. Both families declined to comment through their attorney, Larry Richter of Mount Pleasant. "Nine brave men have fallen," Richter said. "Others have suffered and continue to suffer a truly irreplaceable loss." The families of three other firefighters who perished June 18 — Capt. Billy Hutchinson and firefighters Melvin Champaign and Brad Baity — already have filed similar wrongful-death lawsuits. The suits target the site's owners, the manufacturers of the furniture in the store, a building contractor and the companies that built the fire doors that investigators later determined had malfunctioned. Sofa store attorney Richard Rosen could not be reached for comment Tuesday. In response to the previous suits, Rosen said the store's owners have worked since the fire to ensure that a similar tragedy never occurs and have cooperated at every step of the investigations. Read more in Wednesday's edition of The Post and Courier. |
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Comments
This article has 5 comment(s)
Posted by mdtpace on May 13, 2008 at 6:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Father in law? What about his uncle's cousin's best friend's next door neighbor? When is he going to get his?
Posted by 1963 on May 13, 2008 at 7:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This statement is about lawyers and lawyers in general and not the relatives of the fireman. I don't see how the furniture manufacturers can be held liable. If so every home and business in America, that has furniture in them, and has a fire fatality could sue them. This looks like the lawyers are just trying to sue anybody, hoping a jury will feel pity and they will get money to fill their pockets. Why do lawyers do this? Because in America you can sue anybody for anything.
Posted by SomeTruthPlease on May 13, 2008 at 7:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Good one, mdtpace...I know what you mean...it's unbelievable the relatives that have come out of the woodwork...Mr. Cofield is only ten years older than his son-in-law, so I'm assuming he's filing on behalf of Mr. Benke's younger wife and young children. I still can't figure out where the furniture manufacturers went wrong...don't know exactly where their liability is...money is money, I guess, and everybody does have a dollar value.
Posted by acharlestongirl on May 13, 2008 at 9:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Nothing will bring these men back from the dead. This was indeed a tragedy. The families of these men have been taken care of through funds set up by the city and the incredible outpouring of generosity from everyday citizens. Millions of dollars have been raised and given out to the families. HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH? At what point does this tarnish the incredible reputations of these nine fine men. How would they feel about what is going on now? From the outside looking in it looks like greed. Everyone from the lawyers to the uncle's cousin's brother's cat is looking for a payday. It turns my stomach.
Posted by rocketscientist on May 13, 2008 at 9:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
acharlestongirl--
very well said...i couldn't agree more!