EKB News

Massey Energy has settled an age discrimination lawsuit filed by five miners in 2006 against Massey subsidiary Spartan Mining Co. and Chief Executive Don Blankenship. Over 200 union miners alleged they were not rehired when Massey bought bankrupt Horizon Natural Resources' mine in eastern Kanawha County in 2004 because they were over the age of 40 years. The National Labor Relations Board and a federal court ordered Massey earlier to rehire 82 of those miners, to which Massey says it has complied by attempting to rehire them. Under the $8.75 million settlement, 82 of the miners are to receive $38,000, while the remaining miners will receive $19,000, and trial lawyers will get $3 million.