Change you can believe in: public hearings into the Upper Big Branch Mine dsaster have been delayed

[hedgehog]

because the Justice Department is putting together a criminal case and doesn't want public hearings to screw the pooch:

http://wvgazette.com/News/201101141724

This is old news going back to May, but new to me. When have you ever heard of managers facing even the possibility of criminal charges when workers are killed on the job!

The last time I can think of is this case:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamlet_chicken_processing_plant_fire#Prosecution_of_the_owners

25 people burned to death because the exit doors had been locked from the outside. The man who ordered the doors locked served less than 5 years.

[MH1]

1. well I hope they can bring criminal charges but I also hope they can do it soon

the criminal case is more important, but it's also important to keep the families informed, and not have it drag on too long.

I sometimes wonder why these investigations take so long? funding or manpower issues? stonewalling? just wondering.

[hedgehog]

2. My guess is that the families would be very happy to see people in jail over this,

even if it takes a while to lock down an air-tight case. It's be interesting if the case reaches into the Mine Safety Administration.

[Hippo_Tron]

3. Because often whether somebody broke a law is not easy to determine

And to prove that they did beyond a reasonable doubt requires significant time and effort.