Massey Energy Sued By Families Of Upper Big Branch Mine Victims In New Lawsuits

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The families of two miners killed in last year's West Virginia mine explosion and another man who survived it have filed lawsuits against Massey Energy as the one-year anniversary of the disaster approaches.

The three new lawsuits were filed Monday in Boone Circuit Court by the families of Joe Marcum and Adam Morgan and by Stanley Stewart, who escaped from the April 5 explosion that killed 29 miners. The lawsuits name Massey and subsidiaries Massey Coal Services and Performance Coal Co.

At least two other miners' families have filed lawsuits. Massey said last week it had reached settlements with seven families.

The Charleston Gazette reports that the lawsuits claim Massey operated the Upper Big Branch mine in a "willful, wanton and recklessly unsafe manner."

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Comments

[Grace Hulbert]

12:09 AM on 03/12/2011

Massey should have been criminally prosecuted.

[Paul Houston]

06:10 AM on 03/11/2011

No doubt this lawsuit will be decried as a "Junk lawsuit" by some.

[Kenz300]

03:07 PM on 03/09/2011

It is time for prosecutions for the Massey Energy mine disaster.

It is time for prosecutions for the BP well disaster in the Gulf.

It is time for prosecutions for the Mortgage mess and the Wall Street melt down.

It sure looks like big money and billionaires are above the law.

[BassguyGG]

03:02 PM on 03/09/2011

Massey thinks it's above the law and I would LOVE to see them get their comeuppance, but I am not very hopeful...