According to local news outlet the West Virginia Record, Mark Young was working as a roof bolt operator at the White Buck Grassy Creek mine in Nicholas County in southern West Virginia when he was hit in the head by an 18-foot-long flyboard in April 2006.
In documentation filed with Kanahwa Circuit Court that cites Alex Energy, White Buck Coal Company, Massey Coal and Massey Energy as defendants, Young claims he was struck on the left side of the head and suffered a subsequent skull fracture as well as permanent and severe head and brain wounds.
The Fletcher Roof Ranger II dual-head roof bolter's flyboards were not fastened and extended over the unit's chassis, according to the news outlet. Young suffered a concussion as well as subdural hematoma injury, an orbit fracture, a left ocular contusion and left subconjuctival hemorrhage, and a pulmonary contusion.
The worker and his family are seeking both compensatory and punitive damages.
As of press time, Massey Energy did not release a public statement on the situation and a request by International Longwall News for comment was not returned.