TIM HUBER
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Coal producer Massey Energy has won a federal court order temporarily barring surface mining protesters from its southern West Virginia properties.
Massey wants the ban imposed for good. It will seek an extension at a hearing Thursday after winning the temporary order last week.
U.S. District Judge Irene Berger granted the request in conjunction with a lawsuit filed by Massey targeting protesters who've spent the past year invading the Richmond, Va.-based company's mine sites.
The lawsuit names five people involved in a recent tree-sitting protest. Massey also wants at least $75,000 in damages.
The protesters hope to persuade the Obama administration to ban surface mining in the region. They haven't responded yet to Massey's lawsuit.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.
