Tag: Gary Southern

Two Ex-Freedom Executives Agree to Settlement

Two former Freedom Industries executives have agreed to a settlement in a class-action lawsuit stemming from a chemical spill that tainted tap water for 300,000 people.

Under the proposed settlement, former Freedom President Gary Southern would pay $350,000 and former executive Dennis Farrell would pay $50,000.

A motion filed Wednesday by the plaintiffs asks the U.S. District Court in Charleston to give preliminary approval to the settlement and 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. They are among several defendants named in the lawsuit.

Freedom filed for bankruptcy following the spill. A federal bankruptcy judge approved a liquidation plan in October.

Gary Southern Pleads Guilty in Federal Court

The last of six company officials charged in a chemical spill that contaminated drinking water for 300,000 people in West Virginia has pleaded guilty to pollution charges.

Former Freedom Industries President Gary Southern pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday in Charleston and could face up to three years in prison.

In January 2014, a Freedom tank leaked coal-cleaning chemicals into the water, spurring a ban on tap water for up to 10 days.

Southern appeared unsympathetic when he spoke to the public a day after the spill, telling them reporters he had had a “long day.” He tried to leave a news conference multiple times.

Southern pleaded guilty to three federal pollution charges.

The bankrupt company and five ex-officials have already pleaded guilty to pollution charges.

Guilty Plea Hearing Tuesday for W.Va. Executive in Spill

An executive charged in a chemical spill that contaminated West Virginia’s biggest drinking water supply is expected to plead guilty.

Former Freedom Industries executive Dennis Farrell is expected to enter the plea Tuesday morning in Charleston federal court in front of Judge Thomas Johnston.

Farrell faces spill-related federal pollution charges. He could face up to three years in prison if convicted.

The January 2014 spill spurred a ban on using tap water for 300,000 people for up to 10 days.

The bankrupt company and four ex-officials have pleaded guilty to pollution charges.

Ex-Freedom President Gary Southern has a guilty plea hearing scheduled for Wednesday afternoon. He faces bankruptcy fraud and pollution charges.

Guilty Plea Hearing Rescheduled for Top Exec. in W.Va. Spill

A guilty plea hearing has been rescheduled for the top executive charged in a chemical spill that contaminated West Virginia’s biggest drinking water supply.

A federal judge in Charleston on Tuesday rescheduled the hearing for ex-Freedom Industries President Gary Southern to Aug. 19. It originally had been set for Aug. 17.

Southern sought to change the date, although U.S. District Judge Thomas Johnston’s order didn’t say why.

Southern faces up to 93 years in prison if convicted of federal pollution and bankruptcy fraud charges.

In January 2014, a Freedom Industries tank leak in Charleston spurred a tap-water ban for 300,000 people for days.

Four other ex-Freedom officials and the company have pleaded guilty to federal pollution violations. Another former Freedom president, Dennis Farrell, has pleaded not guilty to pollution charges.

Ex-Freedom Industries Officials Indicted on New Charge

Two former Freedom Industries executives have been arraigned on a second superseding indictment stemming from a massive chemical spill last January.The…

Two former Freedom Industries executives have been arraigned on a second superseding indictment stemming from a massive chemical spill last January.

The indictment contains a new charge against former Freedom President Gary Southern dealing with the company’s bankruptcy. It restates original charges against him and former Freedom official Dennis Farrell.

Southern faces an additional count of lying under oath in bankruptcy court. He faces up to 93 years in prison if convicted.

The January spill turned off tap water for 300,000 people for days.

Southern and Farrell entered pleas of not guilty. Both face federal pollution charges. Southern faces additional bankruptcy fraud charges.

They waived court appearances for arraignments Thursday in Charleston federal court.

Four other former Freedom officials and the company itself have pleaded guilty to federal pollution violations.

Conflict Survey for Prosecutors in Freedom Industries Case to be Sealed

Prosecutors are filing sealed responses to a questionnaire aiming to determine if conflicts exist in the criminal case over a massive chemical spill last…

Prosecutors are filing sealed responses to a questionnaire aiming to determine if conflicts exist in the criminal case over a massive chemical spill last year.

In Charleston federal court Tuesday, Judge Thomas Johnston ordered the responses to be sealed. U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin and two subordinates who also lived in the area affected by the spill will fill out the surveys.

The January 2014 Freedom Industries spill in Charleston spurred a tap-water ban for 300,000 residents for days.

Former Freedom officials Gary Southern and Dennis Farrell have pleaded not guilty to pollution charges. Southern also pleaded not guilty to fraud related to Freedom’s bankruptcy case.

Southern and Farrell contend Goodwin’s office should be recused because some of its members were impacted by the spill.

Their trials will be Oct. 6.

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