Kentucky Jury Awards $67.5M To Miners Who Used Defective Dust Masks

A Knott County jury has awarded $67.5 million in damages to two former coal miners who claimed defective dust masks led to their debilitating black-lung disease. Of the total, $62.5 million was awarded as punitive damages against the mask maker, 3M Company, according to the verdict form. The remaining amount is to compensate brothers Leslie and Michael Cox for past and future pain and suffering. The judgment is thought to be one of the largest ever in an Eastern Kentucky civil lawsuit.