Families of Perished Crandall Canyon Miners File Lawsuit

Apr 02, 2008 by Eric Ray

(KCPW News) Attorneys representing the families of the six miners killed in the Crandall Canyon Mine collapse last August filed a lawsuit today against Murray Energy and five other companies. The lawsuit alleges the mine owners knew retreat mining of the coal pillars was unsafe but went ahead with the practice.

"They were gambling with the safety of the miners, and they were doing that knowingly because they thought they could get away with it," says attorney Colin King. "What bothers us so much is that there was ample evidence from the Spring of '07 that the gamble was not going to pay off. But to continue and do the very same thing thereafter was irresponsible and reckless."

King, an attorney with Dewey, King and Olsen, says a bump in another part of the mine in March 2007 should have been a warning sign that retreat mining was unsafe. He adds that Murray Energy CEO Bob Murray was informed of the March bump when it happened despite his claims to the contrary. The lawsuit also alleges that Murray inflicted emotional distress upon the families of the trapped miners, says King.

"A number of our clients have expressed how they were treated and made to feel in those briefings by Mr. Murray," says King. "There was short temperedness and a general attitude which made it difficult for these people to feel like their concerns were being addressed."

The suit claims the defendants placed "avarice and greed" ahead of safety, and engaged in mining practices forbidden by the Mine Safety and Health Administration. Several rescuers injured during the rescue mission are also represented in the suit. King says it could take up to two years for the lawsuit to run its course.

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