Eastman Chemical Avoids Redo in Worker Explosion Death Case

South Carolina’s workers’ compensation system is the exclusive remedy for the estate of a worker killed in a factory explosion, a federal court in South Carolina ruled.

An intervening decision by a state appeals court isn’t grounds to overturn the dismissal of negligence claims against Eastman Chemical Co., the court said May 20.

The decision denied a motion by Alton Zeigler’s estate to reconsider its October 2017 dismissal ruling which found he was a “statutory employee” of Eastman even though he was repairing a pipeline at a factory operated by DAK Americas LLC.

An intervening decision by the South ...