Overview of Practice

Coal Mine Safety

We represent coal operators and coal mine employees throughout the United States in administrative and criminal investigations on both the state and federal levels. Our services include mine safety training, counseling and representation during investigation and through trial. Examples of the matters our attorneys have handled include:

• The successful defense of a mine foreman in one of the first cases before the Kentucky Mine Safety & Health Review Commission
• The successful defense of a mine safety director and three coal companies on criminal charges in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia
• Co-counsel in defending four supervisory employees and their employer in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky
• Pyro William Station mine explosion
• The Day Branch mine explosion
• The Martin County Coal Corporation slurry impoundment breakthrough in Martin County, Kentucky
• The Sago mine explosion in Sago, West Virginia
• The Quecreek mine flood in Pennsylvania

Marco Rajkovich is a Licensed Professional Engineer-Mining, Licensed Professional Land Surveyor and a Certified Underground Mine Foreman in Kentucky. Marco worked underground at U.S. Steel's mines in Harlan County, Kentucky, before attending law school. Marco provides training to mine employees on the latest safety issues, assisting our clients in the most important aspect of mine safety-compliance and the prevention of accidents.

Civil Litigation

Our litigation experience includes jury and bench trials in both federal courts and Kentucky circuit courts, as well as trials before the Federal Mine Safety & Health Review Commission and the Kentucky Mine Safety and Health Review Commission. Our attorneys have handled many litigation matters over the years, including:

• Personal injury
• Insurance bad faith
• Property damage
• Blasting damage
• Contract disputes
• Intellectual property
• Business torts
• Lender liability
• Construction
• Architect and engineer negligence
• Labor & employment matters

Our practice is not limited to the coal industry. Our clients include individuals, insurance companies, commercial lenders, architects, engineers, and a variety of small businesses.