Lower Respirable Dust Standard Now Effective in U.S. Coal Mines
Today, August 1, 2016, is the effective date of the new, lower limit on coal-mine dust in American mines. This reduction is expected to reduce the…
Sixth Circuit Affirms Miner’s Award in Published Decision, Holds ALJ Can Use Internet to Review Medical Literature (Dixie Fuel Co., LLC v. Director, OWCP [Hensley])
Today, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit affirmed a Kentucky coal miner’s award of federal black lung benefits in a “for publication” decision,…
DOL Publishes Final Black Lung Rule re: Medical Disclosure, Modification, and More
In today’s Federal Register, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs published its final rule “Black Lung Benefits Act: Disclosure of Medical Information…
Arch Coal Sues DOL Over Former Patriot Coal Black Lung Claims
On Friday, April 8, 2016, Arch Coal filed a suit against the U.S. Department of Labor for issues related to black lung benefits and the Patriot…
Sixth Circuit Affirms Miner’s Award of Black Lung Benefits, Holds ALJ Can Give Weight to Doctor Whose Opinion Does Not Address Subsequent Evidence (Lance Coal Corp./Golden Oak Mining Co. v. Caudill)
Today the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit affirmed a Kentucky coal miner’s award of federal black lung benefits via an unpublished decision. Lance…
Two Medical Literature Reviews on Coal Mine Dust Lung Disease
Two medical journal recently published articles that both provide reviews of the scientific literature on Coal Mine Dust Lung Disease (CMDLD): the umbrella term for lung…
NPR’s Here and Now Covers Black Lung: “The Resurgence of Black Lung in Appalachia”
Earlier today the radio program Here and Now—which runs on National Public Radio—ran a program called “The Resurgence of Black Lung in Appalachia.” The eleven-minute piece…
Kentucky Jury Awards $8 Million in Dust-Mask Case
WYMT reports that a jury in Knott County, Kentucky has awarded a miner with black lung an $8 million verdict in a civil case involving product…
11th Circuit Rejects Coal Industry’s Challenge to MSHA’s Dust Rule (National Mining Association v. Secretary)
Breaking news: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit rejected the coal industry’s challenge to the 2014 dust rule by the U.S. Department of…
Lung Transplants for Miners with Black Lung: New Research Shows More Transplants Being Done, Most Transplants Being Paid for by Public Dollars NOT by the Coal Industry
I have been slow to post about a recent piece of medical research about the increasing rates of lung transplants for miners with black lung. Initially,…