43-year-old Brian Allen was on a lift performing welding work above several tanks that should have contained non-flammable sodium hydrosulfide fluid.

However, experts for the plaintiffs say they discovered at least one of the tanks contained gasoline, which ignited and severely burned Allen. He survived for eight months before dying from his injuries.

After his death, the family filed the wrongful death lawsuit against the sodium hydrosulfide company, and the company that transported it. The Kapstone Paper Mill was not a defendant.

"An intense three-year litigation battle can be very difficult emotionally for a family which has already experienced a traumatic workplace injury and death," said Provost Umphrey partner James E. Payne, who represented Allen's family. "This resolution will allow Kristie and the rest of the family to put the litigation behind them and try to focus on the positive memories of Brian as best as they can."

The terms of the settlement are confidential, but the family's lawyers say it was one of the largest single-plaintiff judgements in South Carolina history.