NIOSH Expands Coal Workers’ Health Evaluation Program
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is expanding its national program of health surveillance for coal miners. In accordance with the Mine Safety and…
Sixth Circuit Affirms Widow’s Automatic Entitlement to Benefits Despite Previous Denial (Peabody Coal Co. v. Director, OWCP [Hill])
In a short, unpublished decision (decision here), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit affirmed a widow’s award of black lung benefits under the…
Sixth Circuit Affirms Surface Miner’s Award of Benefits, Applying 2013 Amendments to Regs (Central Ohio Coal Co. v. Director, OWCP [Sterling])
Today the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit issued a published decision (available here) which clarifies that surface miners with pending black lung benefits…
Sixth Circuit Holds “Minor” Contribution of Coal-Mine Dust to Lung Disease Can Prove Pneumoconiosis But Disability Causation Uses a Different Standard (Arch on the Green, Inc. v. Groves)
Today the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit issued a published decision that turns upon the different legal standards used to determine whether a…
Black Lung News Roundup Following July 22 Senate Hearing
The past week saw a lot of news coverage of black lung issues following the Senate hearing on Tuesday July 22nd (see previous post). In attendance…
Congressional Hearing on “How Unethical Legal and Medical Practices Stack the Deck Against Black Lung Claimants”
This morning beginning at 9:45 a.m., a congressional hearing is being held on “How Unethical Legal and Medical Practices Stack the Deck Against Black Lung Claimants.” …
ACLC Clients Featured in Huffington Post Story on Black Lung
The Huffington Post is out with a story today highlighting several ACLC clients in western Kentucky who have been subjected to poor coal dust conditions, mine…
Sixth Circuit Affirms Widow’s Award, Discounts Company Doctors’ Reasoning (Lemarco, Inc. v. Helton)
Today in Lemarco, Inc. v. Helton, 559 F. App’x 465 (6th Cir. 2014) (slip op. here), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit affirmed an…
Tenth Circuit Holds 2013 Changes to Black Lung Regulations Apply to Pending Cases (Antelope Coal Co. v. Goodin)
On March 3, 2014, in Antelope Coal Co./Rio Tinto Energy America v. Goodin, 743 F.3d 1331 the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit affirmed…