The families of two miners killed in last year's West Virginia mine explosion and another man who barely made it out alive have filed lawsuits against Massey Energy as the one-year anniversary of the disaster approaches.

The three new lawsuits were filed Monday in Boone Circuit Court by the families of Joe Marcum and Adam Morgan and by Stanley Stewart, who escaped from the April 5 explosion that killed 29 miners.

The lawsuits name Massey and subsidiaries Massey Coal Services and Performance Coal Co.

At least two other miners' families have filed lawsuits. Massey said last week it had reached settlements with seven families.

The Charleston Gazette reports that the lawsuits claim Massey operated the Upper Big Branch mine in a willful, wanton and recklessly unsafe manner.

(Sourced from Associated Press)