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3M Hit with RICO Lawsuit: attorneys Accused of Black Lung Fraud Scheme
Pikeville,KY – The 3M Company is accusing three attorneys of orchestrating a fraudulent scheme involving black lung claims,filing a lawsuit under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in pikeville, KY, names Glenn Martin Hammond, a Pike County lawyer, along with Michael B.Martin of Houston, TX, and Johnny Givens of Ridgeland, MS, alleging they conspired to exploit coal miners and burden the courts with baseless product liability cases.
Allegations of Coached Testimony and False Claims
The core of 3M’s complaint is that the attorneys allegedly coached coal miners to falsely claim that 3M-manufactured respirators, commonly known as dust masks, failed to protect them, leading to black lung disease. 3M contends that “very few coal workers ever wore dust masks while working in the mines,” undermining the basis of these claims. The lawsuit details how the scheme allegedly involved soliciting false claims, instructing claimants to lie, submitting false discovery responses, and making false statements to the courts, 3M, and their own clients.
Did You Know? Black lung disease, also known as coal worker’s pneumoconiosis, is caused by long-term inhalation of coal dust and can lead to severe respiratory issues [1].
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1 in 20 working U.S. coal miners have black lung [2]. The disease remains a significant occupational health challenge in the mining industry.
Evidence Presented by 3M
3M’s complaint includes a photograph allegedly showing a 3M mask displayed on Hammond’s desk, suggesting an effort to influence miners to blame 3M for their respiratory conditions. The company argues that it has become a target for personal injury attorneys seeking option avenues for compensation after unsuccessful attempts to pursue black lung claims against mine operators.
The complaint states that these attorneys began filing lawsuits against companies like 3M, alleging that the dust masks failed to protect workers from inhaling coal dust. 3M claims the attorneys were incentivized to pursue these claims becuase a large volume of cases could lead to a more lucrative settlement.
Pro Tip: Understanding the different types of respirators and their appropriate uses is crucial for workplace safety. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) provides resources on respirator selection and use [3].
The lawsuit further alleges that the attorneys strategically dismissed some claims to avoid detection of the scheme.3M asserts that the three attorneys were responsible for filing over 850 claims against the company.
Key Metrics of the Alleged Scheme
| Attorney | Location | Alleged Role | Number of Claims Filed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glenn Martin Hammond | Pikeville, KY | Orchestrator | >850 (collectively
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