WILLIAMSON — Dozens of coal miners are suing 12 mining companies and 15 unknown and unnamed companies alleging the defendants failed to protect them from exposure to harmful dust.
The coal miners claim the companies defectively manufactured, marketed and sold dust masks that leaked substantial amounts of harmful dust into their breathing zones, according to a complaint filed in Mingo Circuit Court.
Because of their exposure to harmful dust, the coal miners developed irreversible lung diseases, such as COPD, Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis and/or Silicosis or other lung injuries, according to the suit.
The coal miners claim the defendants breached their warranties and committed fraud because they made false material representations of the safety and warranties of the products.
The coal miners are seeking compensatory and punitive damages. They are represented by Kyle R.Salyer of Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer in Paintsville, Ky.
The defendants in the case include 3M Company, Aearo Technologies, Aearo LLC, American Optical Corporation, Cabot CSC Corporation, Cabot Corporation, Mine Safety Appliances Company, Eastern States Mine Supply, Fairmont Mine Supply, Persinger Supply Company, Raleigh Mine and Industrial Supply, Marco Mine Supply and John Doe Supply Companies 1 through 15.
The case is assigned to Circuit Judge Miki Thompson.
Mingo Circuit Court case number: 21-C-46