According to a newspaper local to the mine’s location, the Charleston Gazette, the details of the agreement – which have not yet been approved by a judge – will be filed under seal. Two of the three previously settled deals between individual families and ICG were also kept under wraps.

The mine operator’s other cases that have reached settlement were with the estate of miners David Lewis and Terry Helms as well as sole survivor Randal McCloy. Eight cases for wrongful death are still pending, the paper said.

The only suit in which settlement details were released – Lewis received $US2 million from ICG – is now on its way to the state Supreme Court, as his family is appealing on the basis that the figure was too low, it added.

Of the 12 men who died, only one worker’s family did not file suit – the family of section foreman Martin Toler Jr.

Earlier this year, deals were also reached in suits between the Sago families and two of the mine’s suppliers, Burrell Mining Products and Raleigh Mine and Industrial Supply. Still pending are cases against other ICG contractors and self-contained self-rescuer producer CSE.