Two Consol Energy Miners Succeed in Lifetime Benefits Dispute

Two retired nonunion coal miners who worked at sites owned by CONSOL Energy LLC and its subsidiaries showed that the company made misrepresentations about lifetime medical benefits in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, a federal district court said.

The energy company “fraudulently misrepresented the terms, eligibility requirements, and rights and obligations” in their plan to the detriment of retirees who rejected unionization, accepted lower wages, and continued working for CONSOL in reliance of its promise of lifetime benefits, the complaint said.

Reforming the terms in the miners’ welfare benefits plan to provide medical services and insurance for ...