Family of trapped Chilean miner sues

The family of one of 33 miners trapped underground in Chile is suing the mine owners and government inspectors.



Amid the lawsuit announcement, a judge ordered that US$1.8 million of the mine's assets be frozen to cover possible compensation costs.



The family accuses the owners, the San Jose mine, of safety lapse and says officials were negligent to allow the facility to reopen in 2008 following an accident.



The miners were earlier told they might not be rescued for several months.



Since August 5, the miners have been trapped some 700 miles beneath the earth’s surface, near the northern city of Copiapo.