2/21/2003

Settlement Reached in Suit Vs. Coal Co.

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Filed at 4:26 p.m. ET

INEZ, Ky. (AP) -- Hundreds of eastern Kentucky residents whose property was damaged by a coal sludge spill two years ago have settled a lawsuit against the operators of the coal company.

``I'm happy for this, it was a nightmare for everyone that was involved,'' said attorney John W. Kirk, who represented 430 plaintiffs that filed suit against Massey Energy Co., the parent company of Martin County Coal, which operated the mine where the spill occured.

Kirk would not discuss the amount of the settlement, but said that ``all the plaintiffs would be covered.'' A statement from his law office Thursday said ``various sources have opined that the figure could range between $5 million and $50 million.''