# Families of two workers killed in Longview tank collapse sue Nippon Dynawave and Weyerhaeuser

> Families of Dillon Miller and C.J. Doran sued Nippon Dynawave and Weyerhaeuser over the May 26 Longview tank collapse that killed the two men.

- Published: 2026-10-24T02:58:45+00:00
- Section: Legal & Disputes
- Author: News Desk
- URL: https://newsforagent.com/news/2026-10-24/nippon-dynawave-longview-tank-lawsuit
- Source: [Yahoo](https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/families-two-men-killed-longview-015759465.html)

## Key takeaways

- The families of Dillon Miller and C.J. Doran filed suit at the Cowlitz County courthouse over the May 26 tank collapse at the Longview mill.
- The tank held nearly one million gallons of white liquor and was labeled not fit for continued service, according to the lawsuit.
- Nippon Paper Industries acquired the Longview facility from Weyerhaeuser for $225 million in 2016 and rebranded it Nippon Dynawave Packaging.

The families of Dillon Miller and C.J. Doran, two men killed when a tank collapsed at a Longview, Washington mill on May 26, sued mill operator Nippon Dynawave and [Weyerhaeuser](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0000zje/weyerhaeuser), the company that originally built the pulp and paper mill. [Yahoo](https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/families-two-men-killed-longview-015759465.html) reported the filing. The families said they want to hold the companies financially accountable and push for a safer workplace.

## The Longview Tank Collapse Lawsuit

The tank held nearly one million gallons of a caustic liquid known as white liquor and collapsed the morning of May 26, flooding a courtyard, offices and a break room. Derek Moore, an attorney for Bishop Legal, filed the lawsuit Friday morning at the Cowlitz County courthouse. "This was a deliberate intention to run the equipment to failure, in total willful disregard of consequences," Moore said. The U.S. Chemical Safety Board investigation released this summer stated Nippon Dynawave was told in July 2025 that the tank's walls were too thin, and the lawsuit alleges the tank was labeled "not fit" for continued service and that, unless repaired, there would be a "high likelihood/consequence of failure."

Miller's grandmother Joyce Becker said, "He's never going to be replaced. He will always be remembered. He's in our hearts every day." Doran's widow, Alisa Bondar, said, "No amount of money, nothing can fill the void that I have right now." A Nippon Dynawave spokesperson told KING 5 the company is "aware of the complaints filed," but "at this time, we are unable to comment on active litigation." A Weyerhaeuser spokesperson told KING 5 the company is unable to comment on active litigation, intends to cooperate with all regulatory investigations, and has not owned or managed the facility since it was sold to Nippon over a decade ago.

## Nippon Dynawave's Longview Mill Ownership

[Nippon Dynawave Packaging](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/000demd/nippon-dynawave-packaging) is a Nippon Paper Industries subsidiary operating a pulp and paper mill in Longview, Washington, producing Dynakraft NBSK market pulp and Structure-Pak and Structure-Serv paperboard sold globally to food, beverage and specialty paper converters, according to akta.pro [company records](https://akta.pro/company-data). The same records show Nippon Paper Industries acquired the Longview facility from Weyerhaeuser for $225 million in 2016, established it as a wholly-owned subsidiary and rebranded it as Nippon Dynawave Packaging. The mill produces premium paperboard equivalent to 300,000 metric tons annually, or six billion liter-sized cartons per year, and supplies approximately 75,000 metric tons of kraft slurry pulp annually to NORPAC.

## Earlier Reports From the Longview Mill

Workers are returning to Nippon Dynawave in Longview nearly five months after a chemical tank rupture killed 11 people, Yahoo reported in October 2026, with the plant not yet starting up paper and pulp operations and the union paying employees through Jan. 17, 2027 while assessing full capacity. Nippon Dynawave workers will be paid through January 17, 2027, with some returning to safety, recovery and training roles, Yahoo reported, saying the union's plan prevents layoffs and protects jobs during the holiday season.

## What Comes Next for the Companies

Weyerhaeuser will report Q3 2026 earnings after market close on Oct. 29, according to Barchart. Nippon Dynawave's union pay plan runs through Jan. 17, 2027.

## Companies in this story

- [Nippon Dynawave Packaging company profile](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/000demd/nippon-dynawave-packaging) · website: https://www.nippondynawave.com
- [Weyerhaeuser company profile](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0000zje/weyerhaeuser) · website: https://www.weyerhaeuser.com

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