• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Massey Mining disaster killing 29: not a crime by Massey corporation

C

Craig234

Lifer
This article speaks for itself.

The CEO of the company gave yelling speeches where he attacked the federal government, saying that HE was the one who cared about miner safety and knew how to do it, and the federal government was a waste doing nothing for their safety, only adding pointless burdensome regulation.

Then it turned out he had a long history of massive safety violations to cut costs.

The good news is, Obama ordered an investigation, and the report just came out confirming the company's safety violations are to blame.

The bad news is, they made a sweetheart deal with the company, who has new owners.

No criminal charges. $10.8 million for the disaster. No admission of wrongdoing.

This should have been an example of the government sticking up for the people and prosecuting the wrongdoing - especially making an example of this terrible CEO who had yelled so much against the government safety regulation that is just what was needed, and the exposure that he kept two sets of books, one for the inspectors with lies.

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/12/10-8
 
Last edited:
Mining may be a hot topic!.

As the others have so aptly pointed out - please demonstrate how this is a hot deal 😕
 
cybrsage said:
I am assuming the OP wants the new owners put in jail for something they did not have a part in causing?
Click to expand...

Where did you get that?

Its sad that, if an individual were to do this, he would get jail time, but if a corporation does it, its okay. Newsflash - corporations are made up of people, and people make all of the decisions. Someone, or more than one someone, made the decisions that cost those 29 lives, and those guilty parties are free to do anything they like. Heck they are probably free to do exactly the same to another mine.
 
He is complaining about the sweeheart deal, which says:

"The bad news is, they made a sweetheart deal with the company, who has new owners."

Why should the new owners be charged with a criminal offense they were never a part of?
 
As I understand it the deal does not protect any individuals from crimminal prosecution. There is strong pressure to do so and the investigation reports are supposed to be pretty damning. I don't think this story is over yet.

What good would a crimminal conviction against the company do? They have sold their assets already.
 
Craig234 said:
I want the company and former CEO charged with the crimes to the extent the facts support it - not the new owners.
Click to expand...

That's reasonable. I agree with you that in general there need to be more individual prosecutions for actions committed by people in companies. Do you have a more mainstream source for this story?

edit: Here's a better article. The Federal Prosecutor says that no individuals are off the hook and they are still investigating. Your article conveniently left that out.
 
Last edited:
Craig234 said:
I want the company and former CEO charged with the crimes to the extent the facts support it - not the new owners.
Click to expand...

Alpha Resources bought the company after the disaster. Their settlement clears them with the government and union.

Former Massey executives are still subject to criminal prosecution when the government gets it's cases together. Based on statements from the AG that seems almost certain to happen. Don Blankenship should go to prison for the rest of his shitty life.
 
K1052 said:
Alpha Resources bought the company after the disaster. Their settlement clears them with the government and union.

Former Massey executives are still subject to criminal prosecution when the government gets it's cases together. Based on statements from the AG that seems almost certain to happen. Don Blankenship should go to prison for the rest of his shitty life.
Click to expand...


Oh, so you're saying that Craig has another case of faux rage?
 
K1052 said:
A little checking would have done some good. It seems the source of the article misinterpreted the terms of the settlement.
Click to expand...

What did the article get wrong? When I said I want to see the former CEO and management and the company criminally charged to the extent the facts support, and not the new owners, I'm clarifying what I want, not saying that the Justice Department decision not to prosecute the company prevented prosecuting the former executives, nor did the article.

I do see where the OP was ambiguous in discussing no charges for the company:

"No criminal charges. $10.8 million for the disaster. No admission of wrongdoing."
 
Craig,

Your title says it's "not a crime".

If reports that the AG hasn't yet made that determination are correct, your thread tile is wrong (as of now).

Fern
 
K1052 said:
Alpha Resources bought the company after the disaster. Their settlement clears them with the government and union.

Former Massey executives are still subject to criminal prosecution when the government gets it's cases together. Based on statements from the AG that seems almost certain to happen. Don Blankenship should go to prison for the rest of his shitty life.
Click to expand...
We always say that, but it never seems to actually happen. I say fuck charging companies. Companies don't make decisions that cost lives, PEOPLE make decisions that cost lives. These people (NOT the company) need to be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. If the company broke safety regulations which lead (even partially) to lives being lost, then the PEOPLE who made those decisions need to be prosecuted for negligent homicide. If the company broke safety regulations which did not lead (even partially) to lives being lost but reasonably could have, then the PEOPLE who made those decisions need to be prosecuted for breaking laws which endangered their employees. Either way, fining or shutting down companies is never going to fix this problem because then non-compliance becomes just another cost and risk to be factored in. Only when executives are held liable for risking public safety just like anyone else will these regulations be honored.
 
werepossum said:
We always say that, but it never seems to actually happen. I say fuck charging companies. Companies don't make decisions that cost lives, PEOPLE make decisions that cost lives. These people (NOT the company) need to be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. If the company broke safety regulations which lead (even partially) to lives being lost, then the PEOPLE who made those decisions need to be prosecuted for negligent homicide. If the company broke safety regulations which did not lead (even partially) to lives being lost but reasonably could have, then the PEOPLE who made those decisions need to be prosecuted for breaking laws which endangered their employees. Either way, fining or shutting down companies is never going to fix this problem because then non-compliance becomes just another cost and risk to be factored in. Only when executives are held liable for risking public safety just like anyone else will these regulations be honored.
Click to expand...

Yes, the decision makers should be prosecuted, but the companies should also be fined. One simple reason: these fines pay for much of the cost of regulation. I'd rather those companies who violate the regulations pay the cost than the tax payer.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top