|
This news story originally provided by
The Coal Valley News
December 9, 2005
Reader fascinated by Blankenship publicity
Hugh Caperton, Daniels, WV
Editor:
I have been following the recent publicity surrounding Massey Energy
CEO Don Blankenship with some fascination.
My own seven-year litigation struggle with Blankenships companies
admittedly impacts my objectivity, but I am curious about what
appears to be a gaping hole in the medias coverage of his public
antics.
In the recent West Virginia Public Broadcasting production The
Kingmaker: Don Blankenship, for example, no serious consideration
was given to why Blankenship has suddenly taken the public stage to
recraft our states government more to his liking.
Content to live in Kentucky, Blankenship displayed little interest
in West Virginia public affairs until after a Boone County jury
returned a verdict against Massey Energy subsidiaries in excess of
$50 million, finding that Blankenships companies defrauded me and
unlawfully destroyed my companies.
Their verdict came after the jury heard Mr. Blankenship directly
acknowledge responsibility for the actions of his companies.
After that verdict, Don Blankenship vowed to appeal the case to the
West Virginia Supreme Court.
Later a circuit court judge reviewing the case found there was
indeed sufficient evidence for the jury to have concluded that the
Massey companies conduct was evil and self-serving.
Only then was And for the Sake of the Kids formed.
Only then did Don Blankenship start donating millions to the cause
of changing the makeup of the West Virginia Supreme Court. And only
then was Brent Benjamin elected.
Continuing in his efforts to reshape the highest court in West
Virginia to his liking, Blankenship is now openly targeting another
sitting supreme court justice, pledging to once again spend his
millions as necessary to influence the election.
Mr. Blankenship now claims that he invested in the political process
because he wants to help save West Virginians over $60 million on
their car insurance premiums.
He never mentions that Massey will be asking the West Virginia
Supreme Court to throw out our judgment which, with interest, now
stands at more than $60 million.
Having driven my companies into bankruptcy and me out of coal
mining, Blankenship fought our claims in federal bankruptcy court in
Virginia (and lost), in federal district court in West Virginia (and
lost), in the trial court in Boone County (and lost), and now in the
West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals.
He claims that his motives are intended only to benefit the citizens
of West Virginia, but those same citizens would do well to remember
that this is the same man who assured me that his companies would
spend millions on lawyers to drag me and my companies through the
courts for years.
He has certainly spent millions, on both lawyers and elections, and
he has been able to drag this case out for years, but the West
Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals is his last stop.
All I want for myself, the creditors of my bankrupt companies and
the miners and their families who lost their medical benefits is
justice. I will leave it to the good citizens of West Virginia to
decide what Don Blankenship really wants.
Hugh Caperton,
Daniels
Letter submitted Tuesday, November 29, 2005.
|
