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Talk:Jackson Kelly (law firm)

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Black lung controversy

[edit]

This is a discussion about how to reflect the firm's black lung controversy. The initial story of Jackson Kelly's involvement in black lung cases was broken by the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Chris Hamby in a 2013 piece for the Center for Public Integrity.[1] Hamby documented the firm's history of withholding key evidence, presenting incomplete or potentially misleading evidence, and conceding the case and avoiding disclosure in cases intended to block coal miners from accessing black lung benefits. These facts are not contested, but it is contested whether the the firm's conduct is legally and morally acceptable. A judge found that Jackson Kelly had conducted fraud on the court, but the decision was later reversed.[2] Nevertheless, the state supreme court suspended the law license of Jackson Kelly attorney Douglas Smoot for violating legal ethics rules in a black lung case.[3]

The controversy has been covered by prominent national and state news outlets including ABC News[4], The Nation[5], Quartz[6], Charleston Gazette-Mail[7], and West Virginia MetroNews[8]. It has also been covered by professional/trade publications such as the ABA Journal.[9] Such widespread and enduring coverage demonstrates notability for the public's understanding of the firm.

@IndyNotes: has requested for this to be taken to the talk section to work out how this should be placed in the article. I think that a standalone section makes sense, but I'm open to alternatives such as a "Public perception" section. Happy to discuss. Backtorespect (talk) 16:49, 5 July 2022 (UTC)[reply]

References

  1. ^ Hamby, Chris (29 October 2013). "Coal industry's go-to law firm withheld evidence of black lung, at expense of sick miners". The Center for Public Integrity. Center for Public Integrity. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  2. ^ Hamby, Chris (August 18, 2020). Soul Full of Coal Dust: A Fight for Breath and Justice in Appalachia. Little, Brown and Company.
  3. ^ Neil, Martha (November 18, 2010). "Longtime Jackson Kelly Lawyer's License Suspended for Filing Incomplete Medical Report". ABA Journal. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  4. ^ Ross, Brian; Mosk, Matthew; Hamby, Chris (29 October 2013). "For Some Miners, Black Lung Proof Comes Only in Death". ABC News. ABC News Network. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  5. ^ Fang, Lee (16 April 2014). "Senator Manchin Defends Law Firm Accused of Concealing Black Lung Medical Evidence". The Nation. The Nation Company. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  6. ^ Flannigan, Jake (30 March 2015). "Mining companies and lobbyists are waging the real war on coal". Quartz. G/O Media, Inc. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  7. ^ Ward Jr., Ken (5 September 2014). "Judge rules again to let black lung benefits lawsuit against Jackson Kelly proceed". Charleston Gazette-Mail. Charleston Gazette-Mail. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  8. ^ Kercheval, Hoppy (3 January 2014). "4th Circuit clears Jackson Kelly in black lung case". West Virginia MetroNews. West Virginia MetroNews Network. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  9. ^ Cassens Weiss, Debra (29 October 2013). "Law firm's tactics in black-lung case before federal appeals court". ABA Journal. American Bar Association. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
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