Coal mine company offers 3 million per dead miner...

In an attempt to reduce/avoid the lawsuits being filed, Massey Offers $3M Each To Dead Miners' Families. I'm sure the amount is more than many could imagine but the reality of the situation hits home when one of the families is interviewed:

"We don't want the money," his daughter, Michelle McKinney, said. "We would like to have our daddy back alive."

McKinney said she, her mother and her two brothers met with Massey officials April 21. She wouldn't disclose the amount of the settlement offer but said the family was not given a deadline for a response and was not asked to keep the offer confidential.

"Once we agree," McKinney said, "the case is closed. We can't sue."

The families will also receive death benefits not connected with any settlement and in addition to a cash payout. The death benefits include health insurance coverage, life insurance (five times the annual salary of the mineworker), college tuition and ongoing weekly paychecks (until widows remarry).

"Some of the miners hadn't been in the ground four or five days," McKinney said, referring to the timing of the offer.