Justices restore $1 million trust to UMWA (miners union)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.wvrecord.com/news/newsview.asp?c=185472

Justices restore $1 million trust to UMWA

Friday, October 13, 2006

By Steve Korris - Statehouse Bureau

CHARLESTON - Justices of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals unanimously restored a $1 million trust fund that the United Mine Workers of America lost in the financial collapse of Blue Cross Blue Shield of West Virginia.

In an unsigned decision Oct. 5, Justices ordered Kanawha Circuit Judge Charles King to move the union to the head of the line in the distribution of the last $2,449,000 in Blue Cross assets. For 15 years, eight insurance commissioners, as receivers of Blue Cross assets, kept the union at the back of the line with a worthless claim as an unsecured creditor.

For 15 years, the union argued that Blue Cross held the money in trust. No one listened until their plea reached the state Supreme Court

In oral arguments last month, Justices rejected Insurance Commissioner Jane Cline's argument that the trust was destroyed.

FULL story at link above.

[crikkett]

1. Way to live up to your name, 'justices'!

:applause: