Mining C.E.O., Under Fire Since Explosion in West Virginia, Quits

[RamboLiberal]

Source: NY Times

Don L. Blankenship, the embattled chief executive of Massey Energy, resigned Friday in a move that might enable the company to improve relations with federal regulators but might also hasten a takeover.

Mr. Blankenship, 60, and Massey, one of the country’s largest coal producers, have been under fire since an explosion in April at a mine in West Virginia in which 29 workers were killed. The explosion, at the Upper Big Branch mine, was the nation’s worst coal mining accident in 40 years.

Since then, the company has been hit by civil and criminal investigations and damage suits, and regulators have stepped up investigations of several more company mines for possible safety infractions.

“After almost three decades at Massey, it is time for me to move on,” Mr. Blankenship said in a statement. His resignation will be effective Dec. 31.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/04/business/energy-environment/04massey.html?hp

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That b*stard ought to be frog-marched in handcuffs and charged for every man's death in his mines!

[rurallib]

1. Blankenship will live comfortably to a nice old age

sure ain't fair.

[Angry Dragon]

2. They always run away when they are caught

like cockroaches scurrying away from the light

[bluedigger]

3. He's comfortably out at the ripe old age of 60.

Meanwhile, his hardworking subordinates (those that survive the ordeal, anyways) face being asked to continue working until 68...or longer...:puke:

[prolesunited]

4. It's time for him to be in jail

People are dead because of the shortcuts he took.

[Scruffy1]

5. Of course laws only apply to the poor.

As Johnny Cochrane said "In America you are innocent until you run out of money." Rich people can tie a case up in courts for years and the government has to match the manpower and expense. this is why prosecutors are unwilling to charge the rich unless they have a simple slam dunk case. We will never have justice as long as we have extreme inequality of wealth.

[LiberalFighter]

6. Coal dust needs to cover every bit of his property inside and outside.

And whenever he drives off of his property a windstorm of coal dust should be dumped on him.

[WhiteTara]

7. maybe there will be civil litigation

that would ruin his nice comfy retirement.

[awoke_in_2003]

8. not likely...

who will speak for the miners? this asshat will live a comfortable life, while his former employees will suffer as they have done for ages.

[WhiteTara]

13. your pessimism reflects my own

but maybe there will be a crazy lawyer who has nothing to lose but all his money and license who will take on the case in hopes of a future payoff.

[awoke_in_2003]

9. this needs to be posted...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Joo90ZWrUkU

Miners are tough folk who have been fucked over for years.

[devilgrrl]

10. Let us hope that his stop is behind bars for 29 counts of MURDER!

:puke:

[Kurmudgeon]

11. Well, if any good comes from this

It'll be because it will keep Blankenship from funneling any more money into the WV GOP.

[MattSh]

12. Not hardly...

He's got plenty of money to spare, now and in the future. Besides, his company might just decide to pay him $1M a year as a part-time consultant.

[fascisthunter]

14. bring an angry mob to his house

maybe people should start taking the law into their own hands.