A class action lawsuit has been filed against nine companies owned by Anglo American Group. This is the second class action lawsuit brought in South Africa by the law firm, Richard Spoor Inc., which represents the coal miners. The first case was filed in August against South32, BHP Billiton and Seriti. The lawsuit is positioned as a recourse to current and former coal miners, as well as dependents of deceased workers who contracted coal mine dust lung disease (CMDLD) in the form of pneumoconiosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) after exposure to coal mine dust in mines.
“It’s a process, but what we’re hoping is to grab hold of those who benefited from this neglect of miners and their families lives and their health, and to hold them accountable in some measure,” representing lawyer Richard Spoor said.
Motley Rice LLC, one of the largest plaintiffs’ litigation firms in the U.S., is acting as a consultant to the employees’ legal representatives. This lawsuit arises about five years following the landmark class action agreement the two firms brokered for harmed workers in the case of Nkala and Others. vs. Harmony Gold Mining Co. Ltd. and others. In that particular case, gold miners and their relatives received compensation for developing silicosis due to work-related exposure to silica dust in gold mining operations.
“Motley Rice is honored to assist coal miners and their families in their fight for justice in South Africa. Over the past 50 years, our lawyers have fought for the rights of injured workers and welcome the opportunity to share these experiences in South Africa,” said miners’ legal team consultant Michael Elsner.
