Scott McGlothlin v. Dominion Coal Corporation (ALJ decision, January 16, 2015)

Plain-English summary

Dominion Coal sought to depose Sheila Kiser, who notarized a power of attorney from Scott McGlothlin to his wife. Dominion hoped to investigate whether McGlothlin's later Part 90 application was signed or filed when claimed and whether the power of attorney had been backdated. Judge Jerold Feldman quashed the subpoena because Kiser did not notarize the Part 90 application and had no personal knowledge of who signed or filed it. The application did not require McGlothlin's own signature if he authorized another person to sign, and the proposed inquiry into a notarization date was a collateral credibility issue outside permissible discovery.

Decision snapshot

• Governing provision: 30 U.S.C. § 815(c)(3)
• Outcome: McGlothlin's motion to quash the subpoena for Sheila Kiser's deposition was granted.
• Key point: Discovery cannot compel a deposition based on speculation when the witness lacks personal knowledge of the disputed filing and the proposed credibility inquiry is collateral.

Full text (FMSHRC public release)

FEDERAL MINE SAFETY
AND HEALTH REVIEW COMMISSION

OFFICE OF
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGES

1331 Pennsylvania
Avenue NW, Suite 520N

Washington, D.C. 20004

January 16, 2015

SCOTT MCGLOTHLIN,

Complainant,

v.

DOMINION COAL CORPORATION,

Respondent.

DISCRIMINATION PROCEEDING

Docket No. VA 2014-233-D

NORT-CD-2013-04

Mine: Dominion No. 7

Mine ID: 44-06499

ORDER GRANTING COMPLAINANT’S

MOTION TO QUASH
SUBPOENA FOR DEPOSITION

This proceeding concerns a Complaint of Discrimination brought by Scott McGlothlin against Dominion Coal Corporation (“Dominion”), pursuant to section 105(c)(3) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, as amended, 30 U.S.C. § 815(c)(3) (2006) (“Mine Act” or “the Act”). McGlothlin seeks redress under section 105(c)(3) for an adverse action allegedly motivated by his application for the protections afforded to miners afflicted with pneumoconiosis under 30 C.F.R. Part 90.[1]

Before me is McGlothlin’s Motion to Quash Subpoena that opposes Dominion’s deposition of Sheila Kiser, a notary public who participated in the execution of a power of attorney given by McGlothlin’s to his wife, Alicia McGlothlin. The power of attorney is dated May 6, 2013.

The central issue is whether Dominion knew, or should have known, that McLaughlin filed, or intended to file, for Part 90 status when it reduced McGlothlin’s pay upon reassignment of his job duties in June 2013. Consistent with a January 13, 2015, conference call with the parties, this Order formalizes the granting of McGlothlin’s Motion to Quash. As discussed below, the notary does not have personal knowledge that, either constitutes relevant admissible evidence, or could lead to the discovery of admissible evidence, as required by Commission Rule 56(b). [2]

As addressed in the January 13, 2015, telephone conference, Dominion seeks to discover whether McGlothlin’s application for Part 90 status, dated June 14, 2013, was actually filed after that date. In addition, Dominion seeks to determine whether the signature executing the Part 90 application is the actual signature of McGlothlin. Dominion also seeks to determine, based solely on speculation, whether the notary, in concert with McGlothlin, pre-dated the execution of the power of attorney, dated May 6, 2013. If so, Dominion asserts that such action would have a bearing on McGlothlin’s general credibility.

The deposition of Kiser cannot yield relevant admissible evidence. Significantly, Kiser did not notarize McGlothlin’s application for Part 90 status. Consequently, Kiser has no knowledge of when the Part 90 application was signed, or by whom. Moreover, the filing of a Part 90 application is not the only relevant protected activity in this matter, inasmuch as requisite medical examinations and procedures sought in preparation for such filings are “preliminary step[s] [that come] within the statutory protection afforded to miners.” See Goff v. Youghiogheny & Ohio Coal Co., 8 FMSHRC 1860, 1863 (Dec. 1986).

In addition, as discussed in the telephone conference, the Part 90 application does not require McGlothlin’s actual signature in the absence of evidence that he did not authorize its signing. Thus, the power of attorney is not relevant to whether McGlothlin’s application was validly filed.

Finally, Dominion’s assertion that Kiser’s deposition may have a bearing on McGlothlin’s credibility is unavailing. The question of the accuracy of the notarization date, and its impact on McGlothlin’s credibility, if any, is a collateral issue, which is not subject to discovery. See Order, Eagle Energy Inc., 21 FMSHRC 1176 (1180) (Oct. 1999) (ALJ) (citation omitted) (denying the Secretary’s request for a subpoena as extrinsic evidence of untruthful acts are not admissible because they are deemed to be collateral in nature).

ORDER

In view of the above, IT IS
ORDERED that McGlothlin’s Motion to Quash the subpoena for the deposition of Sheila Kiser IS GRANTED.

/s/ Jerold
Feldman

Jerold Feldman

Administrative Law Judge

Distribution:

Evan B. Smith, Esq., Wes Addington, Esq., Appalachian Citizens Law Center, Inc., 317 Main Street, Whiteburg, KY 41858

Tony Oppegard, Esq., P.O. Box 22446, Lexington, KY 40552

David Hardy, Esq., Scott Wickline, Esq., Hardy Pence PLLC, 500 Lee Street East, Suite 701, P.O. Box 2548, Charleston, WV 25329

/acp     

[1] Under 30 C.F.R. Part 90, a miner determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to have evidence of the development of pneumoconiosis is given the opportunity to work without loss of pay in an area of the mine where the average concentration of respirable dust in the mine atmosphere during each shift to which that miner is exposed is continuously maintained at or below 1.0 milligrams per cubic meter of air (“mg/m3”).

[2]
Commission Rule 56(b) provides:

Scope of Discovery. Parties may
obtain discovery of any relevant, non-privileged matter that is admissible evidence or appears likely to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence.