Sofa Super Store wants City of Charleston as defendant in fire suit

Attorneys for the Sofa Super Store where nine Charleston firefighters died more than two years ago want the city of Charleston made a defendant in a wrongful death lawsuit.
   
The store is already a defendant in the suit by the survivors of eight firefighters. Store attorneys say in court filings that the city was “grossly negligent” and “reckless” about the safety of its firefighters in the June 18, 2007, blaze.
   
City attorneys have moved to dismiss the request that they be added to the lawsuit. They say the city can’t be made a defendant, in part because death claims have already been settled under worker’s compensation.
   
The families of the nine firefighters have each received about $450,000 from both workers compensation and a public fund.
   
A hearing on the case is set Monday.