January 20, 2026 - A federal jury in Alabama last week awarded Drummond Co. what is believed to be the second largest plaintiff’s verdict in the state’s history.

The $256 million award came in a decade-long lawsuit Drummond filed against a law firm the company said had orchestrated a campaign against the coal producer, accusing it of human rights violations in Colombia.

The suit involved allegations of bribery, obstruction of justice, extortion, money laundering and attorney misconduct.

In statement, Drummond Co. said it “reiterates its commitment to ethical and responsible operations. The company will continue to operate, as it always has, with respect for the rule of law and the highest standards of integrity.”

Starnes Davis Florie represented Drummond in the suit.

“This landmark verdict secured a resounding win for Drummond, which has long suffered under a cloud of heinous allegations that a jury has now unanimously determined were false,” the law firm said in a statement.

The suit, in Alabama’s Northern District, stemmed from allegations that human rights attorney Terrence P. Collingsworth and his organization, International Rights Advocates, through false information and lawsuits attempted to exert pressure on Drummond, relying on stories obtained through witness payments.

Drummond contended that witnesses were paid about $400,000 for their testimony. Defendant attorneys said the payments were made for the witnesses’ families’ security.

Collingsworth had accused Drummond of involvement in Colombian paramilitary murders and human rights abuses.

The stories alleged that Drummond collaborated with the Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia (AUC) to eliminate suspected guerilla groups from around the company’s mining operations in Colombia.

The company spent years denying the stories and defended itself in court several times in lawsuits stemming from the allegations.

The jury awarded Drummond $52 million on claims of defamation claim, and $68 million on the claims that the actions violated the Racketeer Influence and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO).

The RICO provision was automatically tripled.

“This verdict is further proof that Drummond has had no connection whatsoever with illegal organizations. The company has endured malicious accusations and narratives for decades, which a jury has now unanimously determined were categorically false,” Trey Wells, lead trial lawyer, said in a release.