No Dismissal in North Carolina Workers’ Fireworks Negligence Cases

An appeals court says negligence lawsuits filed by representatives of three workers who died and one person who survived a 2009 fireworks explosion on a North Carolina barrier island can continue.

The state Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday in favor of the estates of the people killed and an injured worker seeking damages against a pyrotechnics company.

Melrose South Pyrotechnics had been hired to put on the July 4 display at Ocracoke Island. The blast occurred as a crew prepared inside a truck. Investigators blamed a small explosion involving igniters for triggering a larger explosion. Four workers in all were killed.

The three-judge panel unanimously upheld a lower court decision refusing to side with the fireworks firm because there were unresolved issues involving the facts in the case.