The Buffalo Creek Disaster: How the Survivors of One of the Worst Disasters in Coal-Mining History Brought S Uit Against the Coal Company--And Won

One Saturday morning in February 1972, an impoundment dam owned by the Pittston Coal Company burst, sending a 130 million gallon, 25 foot tidal wave of water, sludge, and debris crashing into southern West Virginia's Buffalo Creek hollow. It was one of the deadliest floods in U.S. history. 125 people were killed instantly, more than 1,000 were injured, and over 4,000 were suddenly homeless. Instead of accepting the small settlements offered by the coal company's insurance offices, a few hundred of the survivors banded together to sue. This is the story of their triumph over incredible odds and corporate irresponsibility, as told by Gerald M. Stern, who as a young lawyer and took on the case and won.

From the Trade Paperback edition.

Review

"A straightforward, suspenseful, and completely absorbing tale that will leave you cheering at the end."San Francisco ChronicleJerry Stern's classic work provides readers with tremendous insight into the causes of the disaster. . . . It is powerful, troubling, and uplifting. From the foreword by President Bill ClintonA shocking, timely book. The New York Times Book ReviewA fascinating tale of how investigative lawyers work, intermingled with sympathetic portraits of the survivors of the disaster.Chicago TribuneFascinating reading. . . . An inside look at a history-making case.The Boston Globe

From the Trade Paperback edition.

About the Author

Gerald M. Stern is a Counselmen at Phillips & Cohen LLP, a practice is devoted exclusively to representing whistleblowers in qui tam lawsuits. He graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School before beginning his legal career in Washington.