Simmons First National Bank v. Thompson

George Rose Smith, Justice.

This multi-party action for personal injuries and wrongful deaths arose out of a 1981 accident at the International Paper Company’s paper mill in Pine Bluff. Separate crews at the mill permitted two different chemicals to flow into the mill’s sewer system. The chemicals intermingled at some point in the system and reacted to create a poison gas that entered the atmosphere through an open grate sewer covering. At least two employees died from the effects of the gas; others were injured. All the employees were covered by the workers’ compensation law.

This tort action…