Two former coal miners in Kentucky who claimed defective dust masks led to their debilitating black-lung disease were awarded $67.5 million in damages in their civil lawsuit.
The Lexington Herald-Leader reported that a Knott County jury awarded $62.5 million in punitive damages against the mask maker, 3M Co. The remaining amount is to compensate brothers Leslie and Michael Cox for past and future pain and suffering.
The verdict form says the 3M respirator was defective and unreasonably dangerous.
3M spokeswoman Lori Anderson says the company plans to appeal. An attorney for the brothers declined to comment.
Federal officials said black lung has caused roughly 78,000 deaths since the late 1960s and there has been a resurgence of it in recent years, especially in eastern Kentucky.
Was this article valuable?
Here are more articles you may enjoy.
Washington Commanders Player Scores Workers’ Compensation Win 
Seven Charged in $100 Million Workers’ Comp Fraud in Florida 
UnitedHealth Sells Interest in Florida WellMed Clinics to TPG 
Private Credit Investors Clash Over £36 Billion BHP Dam Collapse Litigation 
