Rockspring's Camp Creek mine in Wayne County.
WAYNE - A roof bolter operator says he was injured during an April on-the-job incident and is suing the mining company for damages.
Kenneth Meddings filed a lawsuit July 26 in Wayne Circuit Court against Rockspring Development, alleging that it "knew of the unsafe working conditions with the roof bolter and appreciated the existence of the unsafe conditions with the roof bolter and the high degree of risk and the strong probability of serious injury or death presented to Rockspring's employees by the unsafe working conditions with the roof bolter."
Rockspring operates a large multiple section mining complex in Wayne County called Camp Creek. The complex shipped 3.1 million tons of coal in 2004.
Meddings says on April 7, the roof bolter he was using lost hydraulic pressure because it was not properly inspected, maintained and/or repaired.
Subsequently, Meddings says he was injured seriously and permanently and has incurred hospital and medical bills.
He claims he has lost the ability to enjoy life, wages and earning capacity.
He is seeking compensatory damages and court costs. Meddings says he has already filed a workers' compensation claim.
Bert Ketchum of Greene, Ketchum, Bailey and Tweel in Huntington.
Judge Darrell Pratt has been assigned the case.
Wayne Circuit Court case number 06-C-170
