Settlement Reached in Crandall Canyon Mine Lawsuits
All of the plaintiffs and all of the defendants in the civil lawsuits stemming from the August 2007 accidents at the Crandall Canyon Mine have reached a comprehensive settlement for a confidential amount.
According to the parties, the settlement brought numerous and widely varying interests together. The parties expressed hope that the settlement would bring a measure of closure and a sense of healing to the families of those who were lost or injured, current and former company employees, company management, the residents of Carbon and Emery Counties, and the coal mining industry in general.
Ultimately, the plaintiffs, the defendants, and their insurers recognized the extent of factual complexities and novel questions of law, and the time and expense of resolving them. Rather than engaging in lengthy, expensive, and unpredictable litigation, the parties decided to work together toward an amicable, reasonable settlement to put these matters in the past, provide for the victims’ and their families’ futures, and allow all concerned to move forward. The parties succeeded in doing so, and the resolution reflects the sincere concerns and very best efforts of everyone involved.
