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.
Topics Kentucky
Was this article valuable?
Here are more articles you may enjoy.
Rotting Apple: Berkley Explains Property Market, Company Appetite 
World’s Largest Retirement Community Taps Muni Market to Help Build More Homes 
Suspects in Louvre Heist in Custody After Week-Long Manhunt 
Florida Appeals Court Reverses $200M Jury Verdict in Maya Kowalski Case 
