Secretary of Labor v. Faith Coal Co.

Plain-English summary

The Commission had granted Faith Coal's petition for discretionary review, but Faith did not file the required opening brief or designate its petition as its brief. The Secretary moved to dismiss the appeal for failure to prosecute. The Commission ordered Faith to show cause within 14 days why the appeal should not be dismissed. The order did not yet dismiss the appeal or decide any civil penalty.

Decision snapshot

• Governing provisions: 29 C.F.R. §§ 2700.75 and 2700.75(e)
• Outcome: Faith Coal was ordered to show cause within 14 days why its appeal should not be dismissed.
• Key point: A petitioner that does not timely file an opening brief or designate its petition as its brief may face dismissal of the appeal.

Full text (FMSHRC public release)

FEDERAL MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW COMMISSION
1730 K STREET NW, 6TH FLOOR
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20006

                                         March 14, 1996

SECRETARY OF LABOR, :
MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH :
ADMINISTRATION (MSHA) :
:
v. : Docket Nos. SE-91-97, etc.
:
FAITH COAL CO. :

                                             ORDER


    On August 28, 1995, the Commission granted the cross petitions for discretionary review

filed by Faith Coal Co. (“Faith”) and the Secretary of Labor. Pursuant to Commission Procedural
Rule 75, 29 C.F.R. § 2700.75,1 Faith’s opening brief was due to be filed on September 27, 1995.
On January 26, 1996, the Secretary filed a Motion to Dismiss For Want of Prosecution
(“Motion”) pursuant to Commission Procedural Rule 75(e), 29 C.F.R. § 2700.75(e).2 On
February 1, the Commission received Faith’s response to the Secretary’s opening brief. To date,
the Commission has not received Faith’s opening brief, nor has Faith designated its petition as its
brief. Further, Faith has filed no opposition to the Motion.

   1
       Rule 75 provides, in part:

                    (a) Time to file. (1) Opening and response briefs. Within
            30 days after the Commission grants a petition for discretionary
            review, the petitioner shall file his opening brief. If the petitioner
            desires, he may notify the Commission and all other parties within
            the 30-day period that his petition and any supporting memorandum
            are to constitute his brief. . . .
   2
       Rule 75(e) provides:

                      Consequences of petitioner’s failure to file brief. If a petitioner
            fails to timely file a brief or to designate the petition as his brief, the
            direction for review may be vacated.

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    Faith is hereby ordered to show cause within 14 days of the date of this order why its

appeal should not be dismissed.

                                          Mary Lu Jordan, Chairman



                                          Joyce A. Doyle, Commissioner



                                          Arlene Holen, Commissioner



                                          Marc Lincoln Marks, Commissioner



                                          James C. Riley, Commissioner



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Page 3

Distribution:

Hobart W. Anderson, President
Broken Hill Mining Company, Inc.
P.O. Box 356
Sidney, KY 41564
(Certified Mail)

Cheryl C. Blair-Kijewski, Esq.
Office of the Solicitor
U.S. Department of Labor
4015 Wilson Blvd., Suite 400
Arlington, VA 22203
(Certified Mail)

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