Shareholders who say the former Massey Energy Co. lied about its safety record to inflate stock prices before the Upper Big Branch mine disaster are taking the case to mediation.
U.S. District Judge Irene Berger signed an order last week giving
the parties six months to discuss settling.
Investors led by the Massachusetts Pension Reserves Investment say Massey repeatedly lied about its record, artificially inflating stock prices between 2008 and 2010.
They say shareholders had no knowledge of Massey's long history of violations until after the southernWest
Virginia
Massey was later bought by Virginia-based Alpha Natural Resources.
The civil case has been on hold because the judge is shielding evidence the shareholders want to use from an ongoing criminal investigation.
Investors led by the Massachusetts Pension Reserves Investment say Massey repeatedly lied about its record, artificially inflating stock prices between 2008 and 2010.
They say shareholders had no knowledge of Massey's long history of violations until after the southern
Massey was later bought by Virginia-based Alpha Natural Resources.
The civil case has been on hold because the judge is shielding evidence the shareholders want to use from an ongoing criminal investigation.
