Coal Employer Fails to Rebut Presumption of Miner's Pneumoconiosis

The U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld an award of black lung benefits to a veteran coal miner with a disabling impairment, finding his employer failed to rebut a statutory presumption that he had legal pneumoconiosis. Case: Island Creek Coal Co. v. Young, No. 19-3113, 01/21/2020, published. Facts and procedural history: Larry Young worked in coal mines for almost 20 years. Over his career, his work regularly exposed him to coal dust. The dust was so pervasive that, at times, it limited his vision to a few feet. And both during and after work, Young often coughed up the dust. Yo...