LAWSUITS NEWS & LEGAL INFORMATION
Stillhouse Mining LLC and Black Mountain Resources
Lexington, KY: (Jun-18-07) Claudia Cole, a Harlan County widow, filed suit against several coal companies including Stillhouse Mining LLC and Black Mountain Resources, alleging that gross negligence on their part resulted in the wrongful death of her husband Russell Cole Sr. Cole sought $1.5 million in compensatory damages; $50 million in damages to punish the companies; and $15 million for the loss of companionship to Cole and the couple's daughters.
Russell Cole, 39, and Brandon Wilder, 23, were killed in a massive roof fall at the Stillhouse No. 1 mine near Cumberland in August 2005. Federal regulators cited Stillhouse for six violations, including failure to follow an approved roof control plan, and proposed what was then the maximum fine of $360,000. Federal inspectors have since cited the company for allegedly operating the mine without proper ventilation and proposed fines of more than $700,000.
In her suit, Cole claimed Stillhouse and several companies that allegedly provided management or other services to the company, including Black Mountain Resources, failed to train miners in the use of mobile roof supports and in the plan for removing pillars of coal that helped support the roof. Though terms of the settlement weren't revealed, officials claim that the figure is above the $700,000 mark. [LEXINGTON HERLAD LEADER: COAL MINER DEATH]
Published on Jun-22-07
Russell Cole, 39, and Brandon Wilder, 23, were killed in a massive roof fall at the Stillhouse No. 1 mine near Cumberland in August 2005. Federal regulators cited Stillhouse for six violations, including failure to follow an approved roof control plan, and proposed what was then the maximum fine of $360,000. Federal inspectors have since cited the company for allegedly operating the mine without proper ventilation and proposed fines of more than $700,000.
In her suit, Cole claimed Stillhouse and several companies that allegedly provided management or other services to the company, including Black Mountain Resources, failed to train miners in the use of mobile roof supports and in the plan for removing pillars of coal that helped support the roof. Though terms of the settlement weren't revealed, officials claim that the figure is above the $700,000 mark. [
Legal Help
If you have a similar problem and would like to be contacted by a lawyer at no cost or obligation, please click the link below.Published on Jun-22-07
