Former Freedom Execs Agree to Settlement

Two former Freedom Industries executives have agreed to a settlement in a class-action lawsuit stemming from the 2014 chemical spill. Under the proposed settlement, former Freedom President Gary Southern would pay $350,000 and former executive Dennis Farrell would pay $50,000. The plaintiffs ask for preliminary approval to the settlement and for a judge to schedule a hearing on final approval. The plaintiffs are residents and businesses affected by the January 2014 spill of coal-cleaning chemicals from a Freedom site in Charleston. Southern and Farrell awaiting sentencing on federal pollution charges.