Two Coal Miners File Sexual Harrassment Suit Against Coal Company

WHITESBURG, Ky. (AP) - Two coal miners filed a sexual harassment lawsuit on Friday against an eastern Kentucky coal company.

Charles Scott Howard and Ralph Shuffler claim that they suffered in a "hostile and abusive work environment" while mining underground at the Cumberland River Coal Co.'s Band Mill No. 2 mine in Letcher County.

Calls to Cumberland River Coal's parent company, St. Louis-based Arch Coal, were not immediately returned Friday.

Howard and Shuffler say that for nearly two years, they endured lewd behavior and vulgar sexual language by a mine supervisor on almost a daily basis, according to the lawsuit.

Howard had his schedule changed to avoid encounters with the supervisor. Shuffler couldn't concentrate due to the supervisor's behavior, the lawsuit said.

The supervisor was terminated after the two miners filed a complaint with the company, according to the lawsuit.

The miners say they suffered emotional distress from the alleged sexual harassment. They are seeking an unspecified amount of compensatory and punitive damages.

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