Harrison Construction Company, Division of APAC-Atlantic, Inc. (Commission decision, April 4, 2013)

Plain-English summary

Harrison Construction defaulted after its counsel did not receive the penalty petition or show-cause order, although both were mailed to the operator's address of record. Counsel contacted MSHA promptly after receiving a delinquency notice, and the Secretary did not oppose reopening. The Secretary urged the operator to forward future MSHA correspondence to counsel. In the interest of justice, the Commission vacated the default and remanded the case.

Decision snapshot

• Governing authority: 30 U.S.C. § 823(d); 29 C.F.R. §§ 2700.1(b), 2700.69(b), and 2700.70(a)
• Outcome: The default order was vacated and the penalty proceeding was remanded.
• Key point: Prompt action after a delinquency notice supported reopening, but operators remain responsible for routing agency mail to counsel.

Full text (FMSHRC public release)

FEDERAL MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW COMMISSION

1331 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, NW, SUITE 520N

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20004-1710

April 4, 2013

SECRETARY OF LABOR,

MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH

ADMINISTRATION (MSHA)

v.

HARRISON CONSTRUCTION COMPANY,

DIVISION OF APAC-ATLANTIC, INC.

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Docket No. SE 2011-710-M

A.C. No. 31-00014-261081

BEFORE: Jordan, Chairman; Young and Nakamura, Commissioners

ORDER

BY THE COMMISSION:

This matter arises under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, 30 U.S.C.
§ 801 et seq. (2006) (“Mine Act”). On July 24, 2012, the Commission received from Harrison Construction Company, Division of APAC-Atlantic, Inc. (“Harrison”) a motion seeking to reopen a penalty assessment proceeding and relieve it from the default order entered against it.

On April 19, 2012, Chief Administrative Law Judge Lesnick issued an Order to Show Cause which by its terms became a Default Order if the operator did not file an answer within 30 days. This Order to Show Cause was issued in response to Harrison’s failure to answer the Secretary of Labor’s August 15, 2011 Petition for Assessment of Civil Penalty. The Commission did not receive Harrison’s answer within 30 days, so the default order became effective on May 21, 2012.

Harrison’s counsel asserts that she never received the petition or order in this case. Counsel further states that she contacted the Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (“MSHA”) as soon as she received the delinquency notice dated July 5, 2012. The Secretary does not oppose the request to reopen but notes that the penalty petition, the Show Cause Order, and the delinquency notice were mailed to the operator’s address of record. The Secretary further states that the operator should contact counsel upon receiving MSHA correspondence in order to avoid similar problems in the future.

The judge’s jurisdiction in this matter terminated when the default occurred. 29 C.F.R.
§ 2700.69(b). Under the Mine Act and the Commission’s procedural rules, relief from a judge’s decision may be sought by filing a petition for discretionary review within 30 days of its issuance. 30 U.S.C. § 823(d)(2)(A)(i); 29 C.F.R. § 2700.70(a). If the Commission does not direct review within 40 days of a decision’s issuance, it becomes a final decision of the Commission. 30 U.S.C. § 823(d)(1). Consequently, the judge’s order here has become a final decision of the Commission.

In evaluating requests to reopen final orders, the Commission has found guidance in Rule 60(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure under which, for example, a party could be entitled to relief from a final order of the Commission on the basis of mistake, inadvertence, or excusable neglect. See 29 C.F.R. § 2700.1(b) (“the Commission and its Judges shall be guided so far as practicable by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure”); Jim Walter Res., Inc., 15 FMSHRC 782, 786-89 (May 1993) (“JWR”). We have also observed that default is a harsh remedy and that, if the defaulting party can make a showing of good cause for a failure to timely respond, the case may be reopened and appropriate proceedings on the merits permitted. See Coal Prep. Servs., Inc., 17 FMSHRC 1529, 1530 (Sept. 1995).

Having reviewed Harrison’s request and the Secretary’s response, in the interest of justice, we hereby reopen the proceeding and vacate the Default Order. Accordingly, this case is remanded to the Chief Administrative Law Judge for further proceedings pursuant to the Mine Act and the Commission’s Procedural Rules, 29 C.F.R. Part 2700.

/s/ Mary Lu Jordan

Mary Lu Jordan, Commissioner

/s/ Michael G. Young

Michael G. Young, Commissioner

/s/ Patrick K. Nakamura

Patrick K. Nakamura, Commissioner

Distribution:

Sarah T. Brooks

Oldcastle Law Group

900 Ashwood Parkway, Suite 700

Atlanta, GA 30338-4780

[email protected]

W. Christian Schumann, Esq.

Office of the Solicitor

U.S. Department of Labor

1100 Wilson Blvd., Room 2220

Arlington, VA 22209-2296

Melanie Garris

Office of Civil Penalty Compliance

MSHA

U.S. Dept. Of Labor

1100 Wilson Blvd., 25th Floor

Arlington, VA 22209-3939

Chief Administrative Law Judge Robert J. Lesnick

Federal Mine Safety & Health Review Commission

1331 Pennsylvania Avenue, N. W., Suite 520N

Washington, D.C. 20004-1710