Supreme Court Upholds Award for Coal Miner's Death 23 Years After Injury

The West Virginia Supreme Court upheld an award of benefits to a coal miner’s widow for his death from a liver condition 23 years after he suffered catastrophic injuries at work. Case: Patriot Coal Co. v. O’Neal, No. 25-255, 09/16/2025, published. Facts: Jason O’Neal worked for Patriot Coal Corp. He suffered severe injuries in a coal mine accident in June 2009. O’Neal died in October 2002 at the age of 41. His death certificate identifies nonalcoholic steatohepatitis as the cause of his death. No conditions were listed as leading to the cause of NASH, nor were any&nb...