|
Brooke County Circuit Judge Martin Gaughan upheld a jury verdict awarding $100 million dollars in punitive damages to Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel in a contract dispute with Massey Energy.
He also largely upheld the award of $119.8 million dollars in actual damages to Wheeling-Pitt and awarded the steelmaker just over $24 million dollars in prejudgment interest.
Gaughan ruled a reasonable relationship to the harm caused by the "reprehensible" behavior of Massey and its Central West Virginia Energy subsidiary.
Massey Chief Executive Don Blankenship declined to comment. The Richmond, Virginia-based coal company has said it plans to appeal the case.
The case is reportedly based on Massey not delivering on a coal contract with Wheeling-Pitt, instead selling the coal to other markets at a greater price.
| 
