Lanier v. U.S. Dep't of Labor

296 F. Supp. 3d 834
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Kentucky
DecidedNovember 1, 2017
DocketCIVIL ACTION NO. 5:14–CV–00168–GNS–LLK
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 296 F. Supp. 3d 834 (Lanier v. U.S. Dep't of Labor) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Kentucky primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Lanier v. U.S. Dep't of Labor, 296 F. Supp. 3d 834 (W.D. Ky. 2017).

Opinion

Greg N. Stivers, Judge

Robert F. Lanier ("Lanier"), Kathy L. Cherry, Rose M. Gough, and Patricia L. Renfrow (collectively, "Plaintiffs"), bring this action for review of the Department of Labor's ("DOL") denial of their claims for benefits under Part B of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000 (the "EEOICPA"), 42 U.S.C. §§ 7384 - 7385s-16. For the reasons set forth below, Plaintiffs' claim is DENIED.

I. BACKGROUND

A. Statutory and Regulatory Background

The EEOICPA provides benefits to covered employees who die or suffer from illnesses as a result of exposure to toxic substances in the course of their work for the Department of Energy ("DOE") and its predecessor agencies. Under Part B of the Act, a "covered beryllium employee" or her eligible survivor is entitled to a lump sum payment of $150,000 if she develops a *836covered beryllium illness. 42 U.S.C. §§ 7384s(a)(1), 73841(7), 73841(15). In addition, Part B provides that an employee's eligible survivors include her surviving spouse, and, if there is no surviving spouse, her children. Id. §§ 7384s(e)(1)(A)-(B), 7385s-3(d)(2)(A).

A. Filing a Claim for Survivor Benefits

To achieve survivor benefits under Part B of the Act, a claimant must file a claim with DOL's Office of Workers' Compensation Programs ("OWCP") demonstrating that she is an eligible survivor of a "covered beryllium employee"-i.e., an employee exposed to beryllium while employed at a DOE facility-and that the employee died of "chronic beryllium disease" ("CBD").1 Id. §§ 7384s(a)(1), 73841(8); 20 C.F.R. §§ 30.100, - .101. To establish a diagnosis of CBD from an employee's work-related beryllium exposure, certain statutory criteria must be met depending upon whether the claimed diagnosis was prior to or on and after January 1, 1993:

(A) For diagnoses on or after January 1, 1993, beryllium sensitivity (as established [by abnormal lymphocyte proliferation test performed on either blood or lung lavage cells] ) together with lung pathology consistent with [CBD], including-
(i) a lung biopsy showing granulomas or a lymphocytic process consistent with [CBD]
(ii) a computerized axial tomography scan showing changes consistent with [CBD]; or
(iii) pulmonary function or exercise testing showing pulmonary deficits consistent with [CBD].
(B) For diagnoses before January 1, 1993, the presence of-
(i) occupational or environmental history, or epidemiologic evidence of beryllium exposure; and
(ii) any three of the following criteria:
(I) Characteristic chest radiographic (or computed tomography (CT) ) abnormalities.
(II) Restrictive or obstructive lung physiology testing or diffusing lung capacity defect.
(III) Lung pathology consistent with [CBD].
(IV) Clinical course consistent with a chronic respiratory disorder.
(V) Immunologic tests showing beryllium sensitivity (skin patch test or beryllium blood test preferred).

42 U.S.C. § 73841(13).

B. Reviewing a Claim

After submitting the documentation necessary to develop the claim, the OWCP district office issues a recommended decision informing the claimant of its recommended findings of fact and conclusions of law. 20 C.F.R. §§ 30.300, - .306. Thereafter, the claimant may file written objections to the recommended decision with the Final Adjudication Branch ("FAB"). Id. § 30.310. The FAB will consider any objections and issue a final decision on the claim. Id. §§ 30.300, - .316. The claimant then has 30 days to request that the FAB reconsider its decision. Id. § 30.319(a). "If the FAB denies the request for reconsideration, the FAB's original decision is considered 'final' on the date the request is denied...." Id. § 30.319(c)(2).

*837At any time thereafter, a claimant may file a written request with the Director of the OWCP's Division of Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation to reopen a claim based on new evidence demonstrating covered employment or exposure to a toxic substance. Id. § 30.320(b). If the Director decides that the matter raised by the request is material to the claim, the Director will reopen the claim and return it to the district office for further development. Id. § 30.320(b)(1). The Director's decision as to whether to reopen a claim is discretionary and not subject to administrative review, and, the decision to deny a reopening request is not subject to judicial review when based on the fact that the claimant submitted no new evidence. Id. § 30.320(c); Berry v. United States Dep't of Labor , 832 F.3d 627

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Bluebook (online)
296 F. Supp. 3d 834, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/lanier-v-us-dept-of-labor-kywd-2017.