A SULLIVAN COUNTY JUDGE APPARENTLY BELIEVES THREE COMPANIES HAD AN EQUAL HAND IN DAMAGES TO SURROUNDING HOMES DURING A 2006 BLAZE AT A BRISTOL TENNESSEE CASKET COMPANY. JUDGE BILL WATSON RULED THAT AURORA HARDWOODS INCORPORATED WHICH IS AURORA CASKET’S PARENT COMPANY, MURRAY GUARD INCORPORATED AND JOHNSON CITY’S TRANS-STATE INVESTMENT GROUP WERE NEGLIGENT. ATTORNEY DANIEL COUGLIN FILED TWO SEPARATE LAWSUITS IN JANUARY ON BEHALF OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS AFTER ATTEMPTS TO REACH A SETTLEMENT WITH AURORA PROVED TO BE IN VAIN. ONE SUIT INVOLVED ED AND REGINA KING AND THE OTHER INVOLVED FOUR PROPERTY OWNERS WHO’S HOMES WERE AFFECTED BY THE FIRE. THE MAXIMUM MONETARY AWARD FOR DAMAGES IS UP TO 25-THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR EACH SUIT, BUT THE EXACT COMPENSATION TO PROPERTY OWNERS IS STILL UNKNOWN.