Since 1992, about 50 lawsuits have been filed by the coal companies, challenging certain aspects of implementation of the Coal Act’s. A lawsuit challenged the SSA’s calculation of the initial premium rate which resulted in lower premiums charges to companies by approximately 10%, as a result of the courts decision.20 In some other lawsuits, coal companies challenged some of SSA’s decisions on assigning the beneficiary. The one Supreme Court decision resulted into lowering the coal companies’ financial responsibilities thereby increasing the total number of unassigned beneficiaries.21 Another case changed the status of many beneficiaries from assigned to unassigned.22 As a result of these cases, the CBF will not be receiving further premiums
