OSHRC Commission decision Docket 96-1091 Decided December 23, 1996 Remanded

Navieras NPR, Inc.

Dismissal reviewed so settlement could be considered

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This is citable Commission precedent from 1996, and it may have been appealed since. Ezel checks how it stands today and answers your situation, with citations.

Currency note: this decision dates from 1996
The OSHA standards may have been amended, penalty amounts have been adjusted, and later Commission or court decisions may have changed the analysis since then. Treat this page as historical context, not current compliance advice. Verify the current standard before relying on any specific rule, threshold, or penalty mentioned here.
Decision of the Commission
This is a decision of the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, the highest level of agency review, citable as Commission precedent. It may have been appealed to a U.S. Court of Appeals after issuance; check subsequent history before relying on it. The full text below is from the official OSHRC release.
About this page: The plain-English summary and decision snapshot below were written by Ezel based on the official OSHRC release. The full text is the Commission's own document.
Read the official release (oshrc.gov)

Plain-English summary

The judge dismissed the case and vacated the citations after the Secretary failed to file a complaint by the final deadline. Before that dismissal became a final order, the Secretary submitted a settlement that the parties had apparently reached before the judge ruled. The agreement withdrew one citation item, reduced the proposed total penalty from $5,200 to $2,500, and stated that the cited conditions had been abated. The Commission directed the dismissal for review and remanded the case for the judge to consider the settlement agreement.

Decision snapshot

  • Cited standard(s): No specific OSHA standard number is identified in the decision.
  • Outcome: The dismissal was directed for review, and the case was remanded for consideration of the parties' settlement agreement.
  • Key point: A timely submitted settlement can warrant Commission review and remand before a judge's dismissal becomes final.

Full text (OSHRC public release)

                                         United States of America
               OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW COMMISSION
                                   1120 20th Street, N.W., Ninth Floor
                                      Washington, DC 20036-3419




                                 :
                                 i
                                 :

SECRETARY OF LABOR, f:
.

Complainant
:
i.
V. :. OSHRC Docket No. 964091
.;
:
NAVIERAS NPR, INC., :i
::
.
Respondent

                      DZWCTZON FOR REVIEWAND                   REndIA.A!D

    The Secretary has filed a a letter which we shall consider a Petition for

Discretionary Review in the above cited action. Pursuant to 29 U.S l. $5 661 (j) and 29
C.F.R. 0 2200.92(a), and noting that the parties apparently entered a settlement agreement
prior to the judge’s decision dismissing the case based on the Secretary’s failure to file a
complaint, the decision of the Administrative Law Judge is directed for review. The case
additionally is remanded to the judge for consideration of the parties’ settlement agreement.

DATED: mer 23A .
STUART E. WEISBERG
Chairman

                                                 DANIEL GUTTMAN
                                                 Commissioner

NOTICE OF DIRECTION FOR REVIEW AND REMAND

  The attached Direction for Review and Remand by the Occupational Safety and Health

Review Commission was issued and served on the following on December 23, 1996.

Daniel J. Mick, Esq.
Counsel for Regional Trial Litigation
Office of the Solicitor, USDOL
200 Constitution Ave., N. W. Room S4004
Washington, D.C. 20210

Patricia Rodenhausen
Office of the Solicitor, U.S. DOL
201 Varick St., Room 707
New York, NY 10014

Fernando Guardiola, Manager Loss Prevention
Navieras NPR, Inc.
P. 0. Box 71306
San Juan, PR 00936-8306

Irving Sornmer
Chief Administrative Law Judge
Occupational Safety and Health
Review Commission
1120 20th Street, Suite 990
Washington, D.C. 20036-3419

                                                   FOR THE COMMISSION




                                                   Ray H. Darling, Jr.
                                                   Executive Secretary

U.S. Department of Labor Office of the Solicitor
201 Varick Street
New York, New York 10014

                          Reply to the Attention of:   SOL:SDD
                                                       50519
                                                       Tel. 212-337-2081
                                                       FAX 212-337-2112
BY FEDERAL EXPRESS

December 16,    1996

Ray Darling, Executive Secretary
Occupational Safety and Health
     Review Commission

. One Lafayette Centre
1120 20th Street, N.W.
Suite 980
Washington, D. C. 20036-3419

Dear Mr. Darling:

Re .
   .   Secretary of Labor v. Navieras NPR, Inc.
       OSHRC Docket No. 96-1091

We forward to you the executed stipulated settlement which was
belatedly received in our office on December 10, 1996.        Judge
Sommer vacated the citations and dismissed this matter due to the
fact that no complaint was filed in this matter.     His order was
docketed by your office on November 22, 1996, and will become a
final order on December 23, 1996.          Due to administrative
difficulties, this matter was received by facsimile transmission in
the Long Island Area OSHA Office on or about November 14, 1996, but
was not received by us until December 10.

We respectfully request that the Commission accept this settlement,
and that the order dismissing the citations be set aside.
Thank you for your assistance in this matter.

Sincerely,

Patricia M. Rodenhausen
Regional Solicitor




       Fernando Guardiola, Manager

~iWJIERtX NPR,RISI( MGMT 'D:8097933Cll NW 14'90 9:Ol No.005 P.02

                               UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

                OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY dk HEALTH REWEW COMMISSION



    ROBERT B. REICH, Secretary of Labor,                            a
                                                                    .       OSHRC Docket or
    United States Department of Labor,
                                                                    a.      Inspection No.
                                               Comphinant ,
                                                                    a. -    106896913

                                          v.                        .0
                                  .
    NAWERAS IWR, INC.




                                                     J, DAWIT McATEER
                                                     Acting Solicitor of Labor

                                                     PATRKIA M. RODENHAUSEN
                                                     Regional Solicitor

                                                     STEPHEN D. DUBNOFF
                                                     Counsel for Occupational
                                                            Safety Bz Health

                                                     U.S. Department df Labor
                                                     Attorneys for ROBERT B. REICH
                                      .              Secretary of Labor,
                                                     Complainant.

    POST OFFICE ADDRESS:

    Patricia M. Rodenhausen
    Regional Solicitor
    U.S. Department of Labor

. 201 V&k Street, Rm, 707
New York, NY 10014
Tel. 212-337-2081
NWIERW NPR,RISK MGMT 'D:8097933211 NW 14’96 9:Ol No.005 P.03
a . . I

                                  UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

                  OCCUPATIONAL         SAFE7-Y Bt HEALTH REVIEW COMMISSION




     ROBERT B. REICH, Secretary of Labor,                                         OSHRC Docket or
     United States Department of L&or,
                                                                                  Inspection No.
                                         Complainant,
                                                                                  106896913
                                  v.

     NAVIERAS NPR, INC.
                                                                          88
                                         Respondent.


                                   ,STlpuLATED        SET’FLEMENT




                   Based upon the following reciti,     the Complainant and the Respondent herein

     agree to the following as 8 conchsion   of this matter:

                    1, The Complainant, ROBERT B- REICH, Secretary of Labor, United States

     Deparagnt    of Labor, hereby withdraws hem 1 of Citation No. 2.

                    2. The Complainant. ROBERT B. REICI-I, Secretary of I&or,              U&d     States

     Dcpmtment of Labor, hereby amends the notification(s) of proposed penalty to reflect a total

     amended prosed     penalty of $Z,SoO to be assessed as follows:

                                                            ORIGINAL              li?Vtl3NDED
                                                            PROPOSED              kKopOY3D
                                  IyrIgA NO,                PENALTY               PENALTY




     TOTAL PROPOSED PENALTY:                            _   $5,200                !§2soo

\
_ NWIERW NPR,RISK MGMT TD:8097933011 NO) 14'96 9:02 No.005 F.04

                              3. Based upon the above, tie Respondent, NAVE&U                 NPR, INC., herein

             withdraws    its notice of contest as to the citation(s) and notification(s) of proposed penalty,     as

             mdifsed     herein.

                              4.     Respondent aiYkrnatively states that:

                               (a)        All violations alleged in the citation(s) have been abated.

                               5. Respondent affirmatively states that it will comply in the future with the

             occup&ioIlal Safety and H&h            Act.

                               6. Respondent certifies that on        NOVember     8 p 19 96       , this stipulation

             will be posted where affected employees may see it.

                               7.    On or before 1211196, Respondent will pay the ammded proposed penalty

             of $2,500 by forwarding a check made payable to “Occupational Safety and Heaith-~borl’ in

             &at anmmt to the U.S. Dcpartmmt of Tor                - OSHA, BBV Plaza Building, Suite 33, 1510

             FD Roosevelt Avenue, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico 00968,

                               8. This proposed Stipulated Settlement is not to be taken as an admission for

             the purpose of any prouxding          other than one arising under the Occupational Safety and

             Health Act.

NFVJIERW NPR,RISK MGMT ID:8097933011 NOi) 14'96 9:02 No.005 P.05
. . . ,

                     9, Each party hereby agrees to bear its own fees and other expenses incurred

       by such party in connection with any stage of this proceeding.



       DATED: New York, New York


                                                  J, DAVITT McATEER
                                                  Acting Solicitor of Labor

                                                  PATRICIA M. RODENHAUSEN




                                                         Safetyand Health
                                                         U.S. Department of Labor
                                                         Attorneys for ROBERT B. REICH
                                                         Complainant.

       NAWERAS NPR, INC.
       Re~po~t

NAUIERfX NPR,RISK MGMT ID:8097933011 NOU 14’96 9:02 No.005 P.06
* . ,

        (CHOOSE APPROPRIATE CERTIFICATE)

                                        CIXUFICATE       OF SERVICE

        I hereby certify that on                                             1 Served a copy of the attached
        Stipulated Settlement on                                       ,? tic authorized employee
        repfcsentativeat the following acidrcss:




        This service was accomplished by mailing the Stipulated Settlement to the @resenta&e                 at
        ti last known address by postage prepaid fmt class mail.

                                      NAME:      Fernando          Guardkla


                                      TITLE:- Manager          -    rdss    Prevention        & Claims



                                        CERT’IFKATE OF SERVI.

         Iberebycenifj/thaton,       .                                     mI personally delivered a copy of
         the attached Stipulated Settlement on                                                       Bthe
       . ButhoTizcd employee representative at the following    address:




                                      NAME:




         I hemby certify that there is no authorized employee representativefor the ;=mployew
         affti   by the action w&h is the subject of the attached Stipulated Se&-t.


                                      NAME:                                              --
                                      TITLE:

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

         OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY & HEALTH REVIEW COMMISSION

ROBERT B. REICH, Secretary of Labor, OSHRC Docket or
United States Department of Labor,
Inspection No.
Complainant,
106896913

                          v.                                     .

NAVIEAS NPR, INC.
..

                                  Respondent.



                         ORDER APPROVING SETTLEMENT

   Respondent in Inspection No. 106896913, by a letter dated 7/22/96, contested citation

issued to it by Complainant on 6/27/96. In that letter, Respondent also contested the $5,200

penalty proposed by Complainant for the citation.

   An executed Stipulated Settlement has been received from the parties, and this

stipulation addresses all matters at issue between the parties in this proceeding. The

Stipulation having been read and considered, it is

   ORDERED:

           (1) That the terms of the Stipulated Settlement are approvtd and incorporated

as part of this Order; and
(2) That this Order, pursuant to Section 12(j) of the Act, 29 U.S.C. Section

661(j) will become the final order of the Commission at the expiration of thirty (30) days

from the date of docketing by the Executive Secretary, unless within that time a member of

the Commission directs that it be reviewed.

Dated this dayof .II -- , 1996.

                         SO ORDERED:



                         Judge, Occupational Safety
                         and Health Review Commission

United States of America
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW COMMISSION
1120 20th Street, N.W., Ninth Floor
Washington, DC 20036-34 19

                                                                        Phone: (202) 606-5400
                                                                         Fax: (202) 606-5050

SECRETARY OF LABOR
Complainant,
v. OSHRC DOCKET
NO. 96-1091
NAVIERAS NPR, INC.
Respondent.

                  NOTICE OF DOCKETING
           OF ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE’S DECISION
 The Administrative Law Judge’s Report in the above referenced case was

docketed with the Commission on November 22, 1996. The decision of the Judge
will become a final order of the Commission on December 23, 1996 unless a
Commission member directs review of the decision on or before that date. ANY
PARTY DESIRING REVIEW OF THE JUDGE’S DECISION BY THE
COMMISSION MUST FILE A PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW.
Any such petition should be received by the Executive Secretary on or before
December 12, 1996 in order to permit sufficient time for its review. See
Commission Rule 91, 29 C.F.R. 2200.91.

All further pleadings or communications regarding this case shall be
addressed to:
Executive Secretary
Occupational Safety and “Health
Revlew Commission
1120 20th St. N.W., Suite 980
Washington, D.C. 20036-3419
Petitioning parties shall also mail a copy to:
Daniel J. Mick, Esq.
Counsel for Regional Trial Liti ation
Office of the Solicitor, U.S. DO8.
Room S4004
200 Constitution Avenue, N. W.
Washington, D.C. 20210
If a Direction for Review is issued by the Commission, then the Counsel for
Regional Trial Litigation will represent the Department of Labor. Any party
havmg questions about review rights may contact the Commission’s Executive
Secretary or call (202) 606-5400.

Date: November 22, 1996
DOCKET NO. 96-1091
NOTICE IS GIVEN TO THE FOLLOWING:

Patricia M. Rodenhausen
Re ‘onal Solicitor U S DOL
2Ofihrick Street ’ Rdo;n 707
New York, NY lb014

Fernando Guardiola, Manager
Navieras, NPR, Inc.
P. 0. Box 71306
San Juan, PR 00936

Irvin Sommer
Chie HAdministrative Law Jud e
Occupational Safety and Healt %
Review Commission
One Lafayette Centre
1120 20th St. N.W., Suite 990
Washington, DC 20036 3419

00106896913 :02
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW COMMISSION

                                            .

SECRETARY OF LABOR,

    Complainant,

            v.                                      Docket No. 96-1091
                                            .

NAVIERAS NPR, INC., ..

    Respondent.




                                            ORDER
    On July 3 1. 1996 the Secretary requested an extension of time within which to file a

complaint to October 10, 1996. In an ORDER dated August 26, 1996 the undersigned granted an
extension and directed that the complaint be filed “on or before September 14, 1996” with the
admonition that “THE SOLICITOR IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THIS EXTENSION IS FINAL-NO
FURTHEREXTENSIONS. FAILURE TO FILE A COMPLAINT WILL RESULT IN SUMMARY
DISMISSAL OF THE CITATIONS”. No complaint has been filed to date.
Petitioner having previously been advised that failure to satisfy certain specified obligations
would result in dismissal of the case and it appearing that the petitioner has ftiled to do so in obvious
deliberate disregard of the ORDER issued,
It is therefore ORDERED that this action be, and it hereby is DISMISSED and the citations
vacated and set aside.

                                                    IRVING SO-R
                                                    Chief Judge

DATED: !NOVf 8 19%
Washington, D.C.

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