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                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 19, 1992                   TAG: 9202190323
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: WISE                                LENGTH: Short

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37-YEAR-OLD COAL SUIT HEARD; RULING DELAYED

Descendants of a Wise County pioneer's son who claim mineral rights on 1,000 acres of rich coal land finally had their day in court Tuesday, 37 years after the original lawsuit was filed.

But the waiting will continue for a while. Circuit Judge Don Mullins of Tazewell said after hearing arguments that he will study the case and issue a ruling later.

At stake for the plaintiffs - 480 descendants of Galen Roberts - are millions of dollars of allegedly unpaid royalty payments on coal dug out of Black Mountain.

- Associated Press

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