CHARLESTON – Oral arguments have been set for former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship’s appeal of his conviction related to the Upper Big Branch Mine disaster.
The oral arguments have been set for Oct. 26 in the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va.
Blankenship is currently serving his one-year sentence in a California federal prison. It is the maximum allowable sentence under the law. He reported to the prison on May 12.
Blankenship was the CEO of Massey Energy at the time of the Upper Big Branch Mine disaster in April 2010, where 29 men were killed. It was one of the deadliest mine disasters.
Blankenship is represented by William W. Taylor III, Michael R. Smith and Eric R. Delinsky of Zuckerman Spaeder LLP.
Taylor had no comments on the matter.