Fairfax County Circuit Judge David Stitt ruled that Massey and Blankenship had failed to demonstrate a conspiracy by the defendants to defame Massey and Blankenship. Massey contended the defendants spread false information about coal mines it had purchased after the bankruptcy of Horizon Natural Resources in 2004. Massey argued that the union falsely stated that the company shut down the mines and laid off 250 workers. Massey claimed that the mines were already shut down when the company bought them. Stitt ruled that the comments about Massey were not defamatory.

However, the judge let stand one claim against West Virginia Consumers for Justice, a political advocacy group, which Massey also sued for running TV ads condemning Blankenship’s role in a 2005 state Supreme Court race. Blankenship had contributed $2.5 million for a series of ads attacking then-Justice Warren McGraw, who lost the election.

Massey and Blankenship have 21 days to file an amended lawsuit, if they decide to do so.
 
 
Related articles:
Boss contempt for safety kills coal miner in Utah
Worker dies after blowout of coal face underground
Two more miners die in W. Virginia
Governor calls for ‘Mine Safety Stand Down’
Int’l Coal Group forced to allow UMWA officials into W. Virginia mine for Sago disaster investigation
Canada potash miners survive underground fire
Unionists support labor defense case
Miners, other workers snap up the ‘Militant’
Company greed killed coal miners in Utah
21 years since Wilberg mine disaster; how Emery Mining Corp. tried to hide facts
No ‘freak accidents’  
 
 
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