Tackett v. Bethenergy Mines, Inc.

OPINION OF THE COURT

Alvin Tackett was employed in the mining industry for over thirty years, the last eighteen of which were with Bethenergy Mines, Inc. (Bethenergy). He was employed by Bethenergy until February 12, 1988, when he died from a nonwork-related acute myocardial infarction. At that time he had no pending claim for workers’ compensation benefits. After his death, Nannie Tackett, his widow, as the executrix of his estate, filed an application for workers’ compensation benefits, alleging that Alvin had contracted coal workers’ pneumoconio-sis and had suffered a permanent, total…