Sam Petsonk (’13), Owner of Petsonk PLLC, was quoted in the Charleston Gazette-Mail discussing the Department of Labor’s agreement to issue black lung benefits IDs to those awarded benefits under a state workers’ compensation program, following the lawsuit Sam brought on behalf West Virginia miner Thomas Culbertson (“Miners, Taxpayers Expected to Profit from Department of Labor Issuing Black Lung Cards after Retired McDowell County Miner’s Lawsuit,” Sep. 17). “The biggest value of having federal black lung benefits is the medical coverage.” Sam also pointed to “several hundred million dollars in misallocated costs” borne by individuals and Medicare over a 17 year period studied by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. “It could be the tip of the iceberg,” Sam said. “Coal companies have gotten off the hook for decades on yet another massive category of human harms caused by their business. But no longer.”