Freedom Industries, Inc. Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Following Historic WV Chemical Spill
By: Justin A. Saporito, MAZURKRAEMER Law ClerkThe following case is of particular interest to Salene since she is originally from Weirton, West Virginia and attended West Virginia University.
Freedom Industries, Inc. filed a voluntary petition for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on January 17, 2014 in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of West Virginia. The case has been assigned to the Honorable Ronald G. Pearson. Both assets and liabilities are estimated to be between $1 and $10 million. Approximately 700 creditors are listed in the petition including multiple WV state agencies, service companies, and private individuals. Multiple motions were filed along with the petition including motions to allow payments to essential trade vendors and to pay $2.4 million in unpaid taxes to the IRS. A summary of debtor's filings can be found here.
Debtor is a specialty chemicals manufacturer founded in 1986 and located in Charleston, WV. It manufactures chemicals for the mining, steel, and cement industries and is wholly-owned by Chemstream Holdings, Inc. The Charleston chemical plant is located along the Elk River and has recently been widely publicized as the cause of a chemical spill that contaminated the Elk River on January 9th, 2014 which led to state and federal states of emergency being declared. The spill left 300,000 residents without running water for several days. The chemical that leaked into the river is used in coal processing. The local water supply is currently said to be safe for residents in the nine affected counties except for residents in certain towns. Additionally, pregnant women in the affected areas are advised to drink only bottled water at this time.
Debtor is represented by Mark E. Freedlander of McGuire Woods LLP and Stephen L. Thompson from Barth & Thompson. Debtor also filed a motion to Employ Pietragallo, Gordon, Alfano, Bosick, and Raspanti, LLP as Special Litigation Counsel.