Freedom Industries President Wants To Get Paid

The president of the company that spilled chemicals into 300,000 West Virginians' water supply wants to get paid for work during bankruptcy proceedings.

JONATHAN MATTISE, Associated Press

Mar 17th, 2014

Mnet 117025 Freedom Industries President Gary Southern

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — The president of the company that spilled chemicals into 300,000 West Virginians' water supply wants to get paid for work during bankruptcy proceedings.

In court documents Saturday, Freedom Industries President Gary Southern requested an order to collect paychecks for work following the company's Jan. 17 bankruptcy filing.

The documents say Southern earns a $230,000 salary. He last received a paycheck covering services through Jan. 19.

Southern is requesting that his paychecks be negotiated and issued until Freedom can appoint a chief restructuring officer. Court papers say he worked 46 straight days through Feb. 26.

Court records show Freedom paid contractors that employed Southern about $5 million the year preceding the bankruptcy.

The Jan. 9 spill contaminated the water for up to 10 days. Freedom is winding down its 51-employee operations.

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