CONSOL Energy Must Defend New Claims by Retired Coal Miners

CONSOL Energy Inc. and its subsidiaries must defend new claims under federal benefits law that they allegedly sent misleading communications involving lifetime health-care benefits to union retired coal miners.

The International Union, United Mine Workers of America, and six retirees can file an amended lawsuit to include a new claim of fiduciary breach under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, Judge David A. Faber of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia held May 21. They are challenging the termination of retiree lifetime health-care benefits by CONSOL and four of its subsidiaries

CONSOL unilaterally cut retiree ...