Chief justice recuses self from a second Massey caseJanuary 29, 2008Supreme Court Chief Justice Elliott "Spike" Maynard recused himself today from hearing Massey Energy's appeal, filed earlier this month, of a $220 million Brooke County jury verdict in favor of Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel.
In July, the jury found Massey violated a long-term supply contract when it failed to deliver metallurgical coal to Wheeling-Pitt, selling it instead to customers willing to pay higher prices, including overseas customers.
Earlier this month, Maynard also recused himself from rehearing future appeals from Massey Energy regarding the Supreme Court's deliberations overturning a Boone County jury verdict, now worth $76.3 million, in favor of Harman Mining and Hugh Caperton, its owner.
Maynard voted in favor of Massey Energy in the original ruling dismissing the Harman case, which the court voted unanimously last week to reconsider.
A court filing made earlier this month in the Harman case included photographs of Maynard and Massey CEO Don Blankenship vacationing together in Monaco.
http://wvgazette.com/latest/200801290621 Hmm, $300 million now that Blankenship thought his pals on the SC had already delivered on. If this keeps up, sooner or later it will start adding up to some real money.