Disaster at Massey’s W.Va. mine spurs another shareholder lawsuit against company officials

Another investor suing over W.Va. mine disaster

BECKLEY, W.Va. — Another lawsuit has been filed by Massey Energy investors against company officials over an explosion that killed 29 coal miners last month in West Virginia.

The lawsuit was filed Friday by the Firefighters Retirement System of Louisiana in U.S. District Court in Beckley. Attorneys are asking the court to certify the lawsuit as a class action.

The complaint alleges that Richmond, Va.-based Massey committed securities fraud by lying to investors about the safety of its mines. It seeks unspecified damages.

A similar lawsuit was filed last month in the same court by another investor. Shareholders also have filed lawsuits in Wyoming County Circuit Court, Kanawha County Circuit Court and Delaware’s Chancery Court.