Worker sues for $1M over Miss. mill explosion

Glen Rankin, 52, was injured in the blast at International Paper Co.'s Redwood plant when a boiler exploded, according to the lawsuit filed in Warren County Circuit Court. One worker was killed and 17 others were injured in the explosion, which tore through the mill about 30 miles west of Jackson.

Amy Sawyer, a spokeswoman for International Paper, said Wednesday the company does "not comment on pending litigation."

The Memphis-based company has said the boiler exploded after being restarted following a shut down for annual maintenance. The company has not released the cause of the blast and says it is investigating.

The lawsuit filed by Rankin names as defendants International Paper and several employees. It also targets 100 John Does "who are unknown to Plaintiff at this time, but were involved in the manufacture, distribution, installation, maintenance, repair, and/or sale of the Recovery Boiler at the IP plant."

Robert Wilkins, Rankin's attorney, told The Associated Press that his client was slammed against a wall by the force of the blast and suffered severe injuries for which he is still being treated.

"As far as what caused the explosion, I'm going to save that for court," Wilkins said.

The explosion killed 28-year-old contract worker Marcus Christopher Broome. Five workers were transferred to a burn center in Augusta, Ga.

One of the burn victims was released May 6, four others are in critical condition, Beth Frits, a spokeswoman for Joseph M. Still Burn Center, said Thursday. Rankin is not one of the burn victims, his attorney said.

Nearly a dozen others injured in the blast were treated at a nearby hospital and released, officials have said.