Secretary of Labor obo Tracy A. Lewis v. Tip Top Materials, LLC (ALJ decision, March 11, 2021)

Plain-English summary

Tracy Lewis, a foreman at Tip Top Materials, participated in an MSHA investigation concerning his son's alleged firing for making a safety complaint. The Secretary alleged that Lewis was then fired under circumstances suggesting a connection to that protected activity. Tip Top did not timely request a hearing on the temporary-reinstatement application. Judge Michael G. Young found the complaint was not frivolously brought and ordered Lewis immediately returned to his former job, pay, overtime, and benefits while the discrimination case continued.

Decision snapshot

• Cited authority: 30 U.S.C. § 815(c)(1)-(2); 29 C.F.R. § 2700.45(c), (e)(4)
• Outcome: Tracy Lewis was ordered immediately temporarily reinstated to his former foreman position and compensation.
• Key point: Participation in an MSHA discrimination investigation followed closely by termination supported interim reinstatement at the nonfrivolous stage.

Full text (FMSHRC public release)

FEDERAL MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW COMMISSION

FEDERAL MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW COMMISSION

OFFICE OF
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGES

1331 Pennsylvania Ave.
NW, Suite 520N

TELEPHONE: (202)434-9958
/ FAX: (202)434-9949

SECRETARY OF LABOR

MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH     

ADMINISTRATION (MSHA),

on behalf of TRACY A. LEWIS,

Complainant,

v.

TIP TOP MATERIALS, LLC,

Respondent

TEMPORARY REINSTATEMENT

Docket No. VA 2021-0008-D

MSHA Case No.: NORT-CD 2021-03

Mine: Tip Top Materials, LLC

Mine ID: 44-07399

ORDER GRANTING TEMPORARY REINSTATEMENT

OF TRACY A. LEWIS

Before:            Judge Young

Pursuant
to Section 105(c)(2) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (“Act”), 30 U.S.C. § 801, et. seq. , and 29 C.F.R. § 2700.45, the Secretary of Labor (“Secretary”) on February 26, 2021, filed an Application for Temporary Reinstatement of miner Tracy A. Lewis (“Complainant”) to his former position with Tip Top Materials, LLC (“Respondent”) at Respondent’s mine pending final hearing and disposition of the case.

According
to Commission Rule 45, a request for hearing must be filed within 10 days following receipt of the Secretary’s application for temporary reinstatement. 29 C.F.R. § 2700.45(c). The Secretary’s certificate of service states that the Application for Temporary Reinstatement of Complainant was served on Respondent by electronic mail on February 26. The Respondent has not filed a timely Request for Hearing.

The
Secretary has found that the Complaint was not frivolously brought and, as explained below, has provided evidence supporting that determination. Therefore, consistent with Section 105(c)(2) of the Act, the temporary reinstatement of Tracy A. Lewis is granted.

Law
and Regulations

Section
105(c) of the Mine Act prohibits discrimination against miners for exercising any protected right under the Mine Act and provides that a miner may file a complaint with the Secretary alleging discrimination. 30 U.S.C. § 815(c)(1-2). The plain language of the Act also provides that “if the Secretary finds that the complaint was not frivolously brought, the Commission, on an expedited basis upon application by the Secretary, shall order the immediate reinstatement of the miner pending final order on the Complaint.” 30 U.S.C. § 815(c)(2) (emphasis added).

The
Commission’s regulations control the temporary reinstatement procedures. Once an application for temporary reinstatement is served on the person against whom relief is sought,

that
person shall notify the Chief Administrative Law Judge or his designee within 10 calendar days whether a hearing on the application is requested. 29 C.F.R. § 2700.45(c). If no hearing is requested, the Judge assigned to the matter shall review immediately the Secretary’s application and, if based on the contents thereof, the Judge determines that the miner’s complaint was not frivolously brought, [1] shall issue immediately a written order of temporary reinstatement. Id.

If
there is a hearing, t he judge must determine
whether the complaint of the miner “is supported by substantial evidence and is consistent with applicable law.” [2] Sec = y of Labor on behalf of Peters v. Thunder Basin Coal Co. , 15 FMSHRC 2425, 2426 (Dec. 1993). In the instant case, however, the Respondent has not timely filed a request for hearing. Thus, Commission Procedural Rule 45(c) compels me to review the Secretary’s determination that the Complaint in this matter was not frivolously brought. See 29 C.F.R.
§ 2700.45(c).

Disposition

The
Secretary has provided the evidentiary basis for his determination that the complaint in this matter has not been frivolously brought. The Act requires the Secretary to investigate the miner’s complaint of discrimination. 30 U.S.C. § 815(c)(2). The Secretary’s application includes the complaint filed by Complainant (Exhibit “A” to the Application) and the Declaration of Special Investigator Michael R. Hughes indicating that this was done (Exhibit “B.”)

Mr.
Hughes’ Declaration provides facts in support of the Secretary’s conclusion that the complaint was not frivolously brought, including:

1. Complainant was a “miner” employed as a
   foreman at a “mine” operated by a “person,” as defined by the Act;

2. Complainant participated in an MSHA
   investigation into a discrimination complaint arising from the firing of his son, Matthew Lewis, allegedly for filing a safety complaint with MSHA;

3. Complainant had been ordered by the
   mine superintendent to fire his son for making a safety-related complaint to MSHA, and that he carried out the order;

4. Complainant was subsequently terminated from his employment
   under circumstances that Mr. Hughes found to provide “reasonable cause to believe that Tracy Lewis was discharged because he engaged in protected activities.”

Dec. of Michael R. Hughes, Feb. 4, 2021 (Ex. “B” to App. For Temp. Reinst.)

The
Complaint was timely filed, within a week after Complainant was terminated. It includes additional allegations relevant to MSHA’s decision. Complainant stated that he was told by other employees at the mine that Complainant would be “gone in two weeks,” and that he was told he was fired for approaching too quickly in his vehicle upon learning of a confrontation between his son and the mine superintendent and other employees.

The
facts provided in support of the agency’s decision, if true, would establish jurisdiction, a timely complaint of discrimination, and that Complainant engaged in protected activity and suffered an adverse action close in time to the protected activity, under circumstances that provide a reasonable cause to believe that there was a causal nexus between his participation in an MSHA investigation and his termination.

Findings
and Conclusion

At
this stage, the facts alleged by the Secretary are undisputed. Therefore, I find that the Complaint for discrimination has not been frivolously brought, and that Complainant Tracy A. Lewis is entitled to Temporary Reinstatement under the provisions of Section 105(c) of the Act.

ORDER

It is hereby ORDERED that Tracy A. Lewis be immediately TEMPORARILY REINSTATED to his former job as a foreman at the Tip Top Materials mine at his former rate of pay, overtime, and all benefits he was receiving at the time of his termination.

This Order SHALL remain in effect until such time as there is a final determination in this matter by hearing and decision, approval of settlement, or other order of this court or the Commission.

I
retain jurisdiction over this temporary reinstatement proceeding. 29 C.F.R. § 2700.45(e)(4). The Secretary SHALL provide a report on the status of the underlying discrimination complaint as soon as possible . Counsel for the Secretary SHALL also immediately notify my office of any settlement or of any determination that Tip Top Materials, LLC, did not violate Section 105(c) of the Act.

/s/ Michael G. Young

Michael G. Young

Administrative Law Judge

Distribution (Via Certified Mail & E-mail)

LaShanta Harris, Esq., U.S. Dept. of Labor, Office of the Regional Solicitor, 201 12 Street South, Suite #401, Arlington, VA 22202, [email protected]

Christopher Dale, Superintendent, Tip Top Materials, LLC, 1704 U.S. Highway 19, Lebanon, VA 24266, [email protected]

Wes Addington, Esq., Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center, 317 Main Street, Whitesburg, KY 41858, [email protected]

Tony Oppegard, Esq., P.O. Box 22446, Lexington, KY 40522, [email protected]

[1]
The Act’s legislative history suggests that a
complaint is not frivolously brought if it A appears to have merit. @ S. Rep. No. 181, 95th Cong., 1st Sess. 36-37 (1977), reprinted in Senate Subcommittee on Labor, Committee on Human Resources, 95th Cong. 2nd Sess., Legislative History of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 , at 624-25 (1978). In addition to Congress = A appears to have merit @ standard, the Commission and the courts have also equated A not frivolously brought” to A reasonable cause to believe” and A not insubstantial.” Sec'y of Labor on behalf of Price v. Jim Walter Res., Inc. , 9 FMSHRC 1305, 1306 (Aug. 1987), aff'd , 920 F.2d 738, 747 & n.9 (11th Cir. 1990).

[2] A Substantial evidence @ means A such
relevant evidence as a reliable mind might accept as adequate to support [the judge = s] conclusion. @ Rochester & Pittsburgh Coal Co., 11 FMSHRC 2159, 2163 (Nov. 1989) (quoting Consolidated Edison Co. V. NLRB , 305 U.S. 197, 229 (1938)).