Imperial Sugar Cases Head Back Into Court

By: Alice Massimi | WSAV News 3
Published: September 10, 2009

A "3 On Your Side" follow up tonight as Imperial Sugar heads back to court...a year and half since that deadly explosion.
The fast facts show that happened back in February of 2008...at the old Dixie Crystal Plant in Port Wentworth. Fifteen people were killed...many others injured.
OSHA fined Imperial more than eight million dollars...in relation to 100 safety violations. Imperial is fighting those claims.
It was about this time last year when it officially moved into the courtroom ... roughly forty victims and surviving family members of the deceased are suing Imperial Sugar.
News three's Alice Massimi was there for the return to court.
You might call it nitpicking... those representing the victims, and those representing Imperial Sugar are hashing out who can be questioned about the case and what can be used for evidence.
With some of the explosion victims in attendance, attorneys argued seven motions. Many deal with demands by victims' lawyers for more depositions.
Imperials' Attorneys think the fifty-three depositions already taken are enough and call these motions nothing more than harassment.
Plaintiff's Attorney Mark Tate disagrees and says he's just fighting for the people.
“Our position is the people who are most burdened by this explosion are the people who lost their husbands and the people who have been burned with a really horrible injury. So whatever burden Imperial Inc faces in producing these documents, really is nothing compared to the burden my clients face,” says Tate.
Imperial most of what's being asked for has already been provided.
Tate hopes at least two of the cases will go to trial by next may.
We'll stay on top of the story for you.

Imperial Sugar Cases Head Back Into Court

Imperial Sugar Back in Court (Added: September 10, 2009)

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