Coal miners left out of work in last summer’s Blackjewel bankruptcy have reached a settlement with other companies associated with their former employer, Jeff Hoops.
Attorney Ned Pillersdorf represented the miners in the class action suit. Pillersdorf alleged that by removing money from the companies for their own purpose, Hoops and associates caused the companies to default on their debts.
"We initially filed a lawsuit against Hoops, Lexington Coal, and Hoops’ son, basically alleging that this was not a legitimate bankruptcy," said Pillersdorf.
Pillersdorf could not confirm if representatives for Blackjewel admitted wrongdoing as part of the settlement.
This comes months after the end of the railroad blockade in eastern Kentucky that miners mounted to demand their back pay.
The amount of the settlement has not been made public.
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