Kudigram v. Constellation Energy Generation, LLC (agency decision, June 10, 2025)

Plain-English summary

Harsha Kudigram appealed summary dismissal of an Energy Reorganization Act complaint against Constellation Energy Generation. The Board ordered an opening brief by May 8, 2025, but none was filed. It then directed Kudigram to submit the brief and explain the failure by May 30, warning that noncompliance could result in dismissal. Kudigram filed neither the brief nor a response. The Board dismissed the appeal under its authority to manage its docket and enforce its orders.

Decision snapshot

• Cited authorities: 42 U.S.C. § 5851
• Outcome: Appeal dismissed for failure to prosecute.
• Key point: Failing to respond to a show-cause order after missing the brief deadline can end an appeal without merits review.

Full text (DOL official public release)

U.S. Department of Labor           Administrative Review Board
                                   200 Constitution Ave. NW
                                   Washington, DC 20210-0001

IN THE MATTER OF:


HARSHA KUDIGRAM,                                  ARB CASE NO. 2025-0049

            COMPLAINANT,                          ALJ CASE NO. 2024-ERA-00008
                                                  ALJ THEODORE W. ANNOS
     v.
                                                  DATE: June 10, 2025
CONSTELLATION ENERGY
GENERATION, LLC,

            RESPONDENT.

Appearances:

For the Complainant:
Harsha Kudigram; Pro Se; Le Claire, Iowa

For the Respondent:
James D. Thomas, Esq.; Jackson Lewis P.C.; Chicago, Illinois

Before THOMPSON and BURRELL, Administrative Appeals Judges

    DECISION AND ORDER DISMISSING PETITION FOR REVIEW

  This case arises under the employee protection provisions of the Energy

Reorganization Act and its implementing regulations.1 On April 6, 2025, Complainant Harsha Kudigram filed a Petition for Review with the Administrative Review Board (Board) of an Administrative Law Judge’s Order Granting Respondent’s Motion for Summary Decision and Dismissing Case, issued on March 25, 2025.

   On April 10, 2025, the Board issued a Notice of Appeal Acceptance, Electronic

Filing Requirements, and Briefing Order (Briefing Order). The Briefing Order ordered Complainant to file an Opening Brief on or before May 8, 2025 (28 days

1 42 U.S.C. § 5851; 29 C.F.R. Part 24 (2024). 2

from the Board’s Briefing Order). Complainant did not file an Opening Brief as ordered.

    Consequently, on May 16, 2025, the Board issued an Order to Show Cause

requiring Complainant to explain why the Board should not dismiss this appeal due to Complainant’s failure to file an Opening Brief. The Board ordered Complainant to file a response to the Order to Show Cause, as well as a copy of the Opening Brief, by May 30, 2025 (14 calendar days from the Board’s Order to Show Cause). The Board cautioned Complainant that if it did “not receive Complainant’s (1) written response to [the Order to Show Cause] and (2) Opening Brief with fourteen (14) calendar days of the issuance of [the Order to Show Cause], the Board may dismiss the appeal without further notice to the parties.” Nevertheless, Complainant did not file a response or an Opening Brief as ordered.

   The Board has the inherent “power to dismiss a case for failure to prosecute

in an effort to control its docket and to promote the efficient disposition of its cases.”2 Pursuant to this authority, the Board “may dismiss a complaint in a case in which the complainant failed to comply with the Board’s orders.”3

   Complainant failed to file an Opening Brief as ordered by the Board. The

Board then gave Complainant the opportunity to explain why Complainant failed to file an Opening Brief, and explicitly warned Complainant that failure to do so could result in dismissal of Complainant’s appeal. Given Complainant’s failure to respond to, and comply with, the Board’s orders, we DISMISS Complainant’s appeal.

   SO ORDERED.

                               ANGELA W. THOMPSON
                               Administrative Appeals Judge


                               THOMAS H. BURRELL
                               Administrative Appeals Judge

2 DeVoe v. AMSA Contractors, Inc., ARB No. 2025-0011, ALJ No. 2024-STA-00061, slip op at 2 (ARB Jan. 28, 2025) (citation omitted) (dismissing appeal where complainant failed to file opening brief or respond to order to show cause). 3 Id. (citation omitted).