In 2006, a West Virginia jury awarded a $50 million verdict against Massey Energy companies for driving rival companies out of business by fraudulent means. With appeals pending, Massey Chief Executive Don L. Blankenship and West Virginia Supreme Court Justice Elliott E. Maynard, had several meals together while vacationing separately in Europe. In 2007, Justice Maynard cast the deciding vote to overturn the jury verdict against Massey. Plaintiffs have filed a motion seeking Justice Maynard to disqualify himself and to withdraw his vote in favor of Massey.
