It's official: Court verdicts cost $3.5 million

Seeing as how Brent Benjamin as acting chief justice, got to appoint temporary replacements for the recused justices. He probably would have been canceled out by Blankenship critic Starcher, who recused himself to avoid the appearance of being biased. Blankenship's vacation pal, "Spike" Maynard, withdrew due to the controversy. But Benjamin, whose election was funded by Massey's $3.5 million dollar ad campaign and is probably more in question than Maynard, doesn't seem to think even appearing to have ethics is a quality worth having and stayed on the case to rule in favor of the man who many believe bought his seat.


From AP:

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Four months, two recusals and numerous national headlines later, West Virginia’s Supreme Court has echoed its earlier conclusion vacating a $76.3 million judgment against Massey Energy Co. in a coal contract dispute.

As it had in November, the court voted 3-2 to overturn a 2002 Boone County jury verdict that Harman Mining Co., and its president had won against the competing coal producer.

Thursday’s majority decision repeated the initial findings that a clause in the underlying supply contract and a related Virginia lawsuit should each have barred the Boone County case.

Spending $3.5 million and not having to pay $76.3 million ... looks like a good investment by Blankenship.