West Virginia court backs ruling in Massey shareholder suit

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) – West Virginia’s Supreme Court has upheld a ruling that prevents former Massey Energy shareholders from holding company officials liable for poor management leading up to the Upper Big Branch mine disaster.

The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports the state’s high court voted 3-2 to uphold a ruling from Kanawha County Circuit Court. The lower court dismissed a lawsuit from former Massey shareholders and prevented them from filing an amended complaint against Massey officials following former Massey CEO Don Blankenship’s criminal conviction.

Justices Allen Loughry, Menis Ketchum and Beth Walker ruled that Kanawha Circuit Judge Charles King was correct in stopping the lawsuit.

Chief Justice Margaret Workman along with Kanawha Circuit Judge Joanna Tabit dissented.

Tabit sat on the state’s highest court after Supreme Court Justice Robin Davis voluntarily recused herself from the case.

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Information from: The Charleston Gazette-Mail, http://wvgazettemail.com.

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5/31/2018 8:54:21 AM (GMT -4:00)