United Mine Workers of America v. Faerber

BROTHERTON, Justice:

This case is before us on a rule to show cause for contempt of this Court. The respondent is Kenneth Faerber, the Commissioner of the West Virginia Department of Energy.1 The United Mine Workers of *75America charge that Faerber refused to obey an order of this Court directing him to enforce statutes requiring full roof bolting in all underground coal mine sections in this State using auger-type continuous coal mining equipment.

On July 10,1986, this Court issued a writ of mandamus requiring all thin seam coal mines in this State which utilize auger-type continuous mining…