Supreme Court Upholds Finding of Compensability for Worker's Asthma

The West Virginia Supreme Court upheld a finding that a worker sustained the occupational disease of asthma in the course of and resulting from employment in the mining industry. Case: Blackhawk Mining LLC v. Woods, No. 25-661, 04/21/2026, published. Facts: Harold Woods Jr. worked for Blackhawk Mining LLC. He filed a workers’ compensation claim in June 2022, alleging that he sustained a lung injury from exposure to coal dust, magnetite, welding fumes and flocculant at hazardous levels while working in Blackhawk’s prep plant. Dr. Rob Keith said Woods sustained asthma from in...