Tennessee Factory Sued After Workers Drown in Hurricane Helene Flooding

The lawsuit alleges Impact Plastics prioritized production over safety, leading to the deaths of employees during catastrophic flooding.

Johnny Peterson's family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Impact Plastics and its CEO, Gerald O'Connor, for forcing workers to stay during Hurricane Helene.
The lawsuit claims management ignored severe weather warnings and did not have an emergency evacuation plan despite the factory's location in a flood plain.
Peterson was one of 11 workers swept away by floodwaters; five were rescued, two confirmed dead, and four remain missing.
Surviving employees reported being denied permission to leave until the factory's parking lot was flooded and power was lost.
Tennessee state authorities are investigating the incident, with Impact Plastics accused of failing to report workplace fatalities in a timely manner.