West Virginia's Supreme Court has declined to hear for a fourth time a case brought a West Virginia coal producer who won a $50 million judgement against Massey Energy in 2002 only to have the state's highest court overturn it three times. The court last ruled against Hugh Caperton and his Harman Development Co. in November, after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that West Virginia Justice Brent Benjamin should have recused himself the first two times the case was heard because of campaign contributions made by Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship.

Household net worth rose last quarter, mainly because the healing economy boosted stock portfolios. But the gain was slight. And it was less than in the previous two quarters. The Federal Reserve said Thursday that net worth rose 1.3 percent in the fourth quarter to $54.2 trillion. It marked the third straight quarter of gains. Net worth had risen by 4.5 percent in the second quarter of 2009 and an even faster 5.5 percent in the third quarter. Net worth is the value of assets such as homes, checking accounts and investments minus debts like mortgages and credit cards. Americans' net worth would have to rise an additional 21 percent just to get back to its pre-recession peak of $65.9 trillion. That illustrates Americans' vast loss of wealth from the worst downturn since the 1930s.

Bill George is retiring as president of Pennsylvania's AFL-CIO after 20 years as one of the state's most visible organized labor leaders. The 68-year-old Mr. George told The Associated Press on Thursday that he'll step down sometime after his successor is elected at the labor federation's convention in Pittsburgh next month. His term expires June 1, but he says he plans to stay on the board as president emeritus. The convention will mark not only the group's 50th anniversary but also Mr. George's 50th anniversary as a union member. He started as a steelworker in Aliquippa in 1960.

EQT Corp. has priced a new public offering of its common stock at $44 a share. The natural gas producer and distributor is releasing 12.5 million shares to raise money to accelerate development of its Marcellus and Huron/Berea plays. The offering also will grant underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 1,875,000 additional shares. The company's shares closed Thursday at $43.82, down 86 cents, or 1.9 percent.

Chris Plummer has been promoted to general manager of Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Fayette County. Mr. Plummer had served as assistant general manager at Nemacolin, joining the property in October 2006. ... The Chicago Board Options Exchange, the largest U.S. equity derivatives market and the last major member-owned American bourse, filed to sell as much as $300 million in stock in an initial public offering.

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