In a recent decision by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Southern Indiana's mining company, Eagle Stone, Inc., has been hit with a $110,000 judgment for unpaid penalties after failing to adhere to worker safety standards. The announcement was made by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana, detailing the company's numerous health and safety violations at their Gosport Stone operation.
These safety infractions, which occurred between 2019 and 2022, included issues such as dysfunctional vehicle brakes, uninsulated electrical wiring, and improper storage of hazardous chemicals—mistakes that put its employees at risk. After ceasing operations around 2022, Eagle Stone was confronted with a lawsuit instigated by the Department of Labor and the Department of Justice in 2023, which culminated in the recent consent judgment.
"Miners and other professionals in the field deserve a safe workplace as they do important jobs of our communities and our economy," said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. In the statement obtained by the U.S. Attorney's Office, Myers emphasized that noncompliance with safety standards demands accountability. "This judgment and recovery on behalf of the public demonstrates that the Department of Justice and Department of Labor are committed to ensuring that companies pay fines for endangering workers and do not evade accountability."
Concurring with Myers, the Department of Labor expressed satisfaction with the partnership with the Department of Justice to enforce mine safety regulations. "When employers avoid their legal obligations, the U.S. Department of Labor will use its enforcement powers to hold them accountable," Solicitor of Labor Seema Nanda stated in the announcement. Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health Chris Williamson also mentioned the importance of civil penalties as a means to improve mine safety and health, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The case was spearheaded by Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Taylor Kirklin and Jason Grover, Counsel for Trial Litigation at the Department of Labor's Office of the Solicitor. To bolster environmental justice initiatives, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana invites public concerns regarding environmental matters, including mining, to be reported through their email at [email protected].
