Ezel / Agency Decisions / KENT 91-973-D

Keith Sturgill v. South East Coal Company (ALJ decision, November 8, 1991)

Keith Sturgill v. South East Coal Company (FMSHRC KENT 91-973-D): Discrimination complaint dismissed after withdrawal

Decision type
ALJ decision
Docket
KENT 91-973-D
Decided
November 8, 1991
Presiding judge
Gary Melick
Outcome
Procedural
Precedential status
Final order, not precedent
Checked against source
2026-08-15
Cited standards
29 C.F.R. § 2700.11
Official source
Read the official release (fmshrc.gov)
PDF
View Official PDF

Apply this to your situation

This order from 1991 bound only the parties to this case; it isn't precedent. Ask about your situation and see what the current MSHA standards and Commission precedent say, with citations.

Currency note: this decision dates from 1991
The MSHA 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.
Final ALJ decision, not Commission precedent
This decision became final under the 40-day rule in 30 U.S.C. § 823(d)(1) because no later Commission review appears in the official index. It binds the parties but is not Commission precedent. The full text below is from the official FMSHRC release.
About this page: The plain-English summary and decision snapshot below were written by Ezel based on the official FMSHRC release. The full text is the agency's own release.
Read the official release (fmshrc.gov)

Plain-English summary

Keith Sturgill asked to withdraw his discrimination complaint against South East Coal Company. Judge Gary Melick granted permission to withdraw the complaint under 29 C.F.R. § 2700.11. The case was dismissed.

Decision snapshot

  • Cited provision: 29 C.F.R. § 2700.11
  • Outcome: The request to withdraw the complaint was granted and the case was dismissed.
  • Key point: The ALJ allowed the complainant to withdraw the case.

Full text (FMSHRC public release)

~1822
Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission (F.M.S.H.R.C.) Office of Administrative Law Judges

KEITH STURGILL,
DISCRIMINATION PROCEEDING
COMPLAINANT
Docket No. KENT 91-973-D
v. MSHA Case No. PIKE CD 91-10

SOUTH EAST COAL COMPANY,
No. 404 Mine
RESPONDENT

ORDER OF DISMISSAL

Before: Judge Melick

Complainant requests approval to withdraw his complaint in the captioned case. Under the circumstances herein, permission to withdraw is granted. 29 C.F.R. 2700.11. This case is therefore dismissed.

Gary Melick
Administrative Law Judge

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