Star Fire Coals, Inc. v. OWCP

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
• Decided: November 4, 2019
• Docket: 18-3838
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

NOT RECOMMENDED FOR FULL-TEXT PUBLICATION File Name: 19a0556n.06

Case No. 18-3838

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT FILED Nov 04, 2019 STAR FIRE COALS, INC. and OLD REPUBLIC ) DEBORAH S. HUNT, Clerk INSURANCE COMPANY, ) ) Petitioners, ) ON PETITION FOR REVIEW ) OF ORDERS OF THE v. ) BENEFITS REVIEW ) BOARD, UNITED STATES DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION ) DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROGRAMS, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ) LABOR and MARJORIE NAPIER, ) ) Respondents. ) )

BEFORE: KETHLEDGE, BUSH, and NALBANDIAN, Circuit Judges.

NALBANDIAN, Circuit Judge. After two decades of administrative hearings, the main

question this case presents is issue exhaustion. Marjorie Napier filed a survivor’s claim for benefits

under the Black Lung Benefits Act (“Act”), as amended, 30 U.S.C. §§ 901–44. Elhanan Napier,

Mrs. Napier’s husband, worked for Star Fire Coals, Inc. Petitioner Old Republic Insurance

Company insured Star Fire Coals. After many requests for modification, an Administrative Law

Judge (“ALJ”) ultimately awarded Mrs. Napier benefits. Petitioners (collectively “Star Fire”)

argue that (1) this matter requires remand before a properly appointed ALJ in accordance with

Lucia v. SEC, 138 S. Ct. 2044 (2018); (2) the ALJ lacked substantial evidence when awarding

benefits; and (3) Mrs. Napier could not make multiple requests for modification during the

administrative process. Given this court’s recent decision on issue exhaustion, Island Creek Coal No. 18-3838, Star Fire Coals, Inc., et al. v. OWCP, et al.

Co. v. Bryan, the appointment argument fails. 937 F.3d 738 (6th Cir. 2019). We also conclude

that substantial evidence supported the ALJ’s factual findings. And because this circuit’s

precedent allows multiple requests for modification in Black Lung cases, even when the requester

provides no new evidence, we DENY the petition for review.

I.

This case has a long history. The district director at the Department of Labor denied Mrs.

Napier’s initial survivor’s claim because she failed to show that her husband had pneumoconiosis

or that he died from it. Mrs. Napier petitioned the district director to modify the decision,

submitting new evidence when doing so. The district director awarded benefits based on this new

evidence.

Star Fire requested that the district director transfer the claim to the Office of ALJs. ALJ

Thomas F. Phalen, Jr. ruled for Star Fire, denying benefits. Mrs. Napier requested modification a

second time. The district director denied Mrs. Napier’s request for failure to provide additional

medical evidence. Mrs. Napier filed a third request for modification with the district director.

Although Mrs. Napier submitted additional evidence this time, the district director still denied her

benefits because she failed to establish a mistake in determination of fact. Mrs. Napier asked that

the case go to the Office of ALJs for a formal hearing. There, ALJ John P. Sellers, III denied

benefits. Mrs. Napier requested modification a fourth time.

ALJ Jennifer Gee then took the case and found that Mrs. Napier established a mistake in

determination of fact. Judge Gee also found that granting the request for modification would

render “justice under the Act” and awarded benefits. (CA6 R. 25, ALJ Gee Decision & Order,

App. 029–30.) She explained that Judge Sellers concluded that Mr. Napier had coal dust-induced

emphysema and that he died from emphysema, but that he did not die from the coal dust-induced

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emphysema. According to Judge Gee, this logical leap required an explanation that Judge Sellers

failed to provide. In searching for the connection, Judge Gee found Dr. Joshua Perper, Mrs.

Napier’s expert, more credible than Dr. Everett Oesterling, Star Fire’s expert. Judge Sellers

improperly found Dr. Oesterling more credible, Judge Gee determined. Judge Sellers did not credit

Dr. Perper’s distinction between silica dust and less harmful coal dust. If Judge Sellers had done

so, he may have weighed Dr. Perper’s conclusions differently, according to Judge Gee.

Star Fire appealed the award of benefits to the Benefits Review Board, arguing that

(1) Judge Sellers, who issued the decision before Mrs. Napier’s most recent request for

modification, should have received the case; (2) the ALJs should not have allowed Mrs. Napier to

request modification so many times; (3) Judge Gee erred in finding that Mr. Napier had

pneumoconiosis; and (4) Judge Gee erred in finding that granting the request for modification

would render justice under the Act. The Benefits Review Board found no abuse of discretion in

Judge Gee’s decision and affirmed.

Star Fire then filed a motion for reconsideration with the Benefits Review Board. In the

motion for reconsideration, Star Fire argued for the first time that the appointment of Department

of Labor ALJs violated the Appointments Clause of the Constitution, Art. II § 2, cl. 2. The Benefits

Review Board denied the motion, and Star Fire timely petitioned this court for review. On appeal,

Star Fire also argues that the decision was unsupported by substantial evidence and that Mrs.

Napier could not request modification as many times as she did.

II.

We begin with the Appointments Clause argument. Forfeiture is a question of law, and

this court reviews legal findings of the ALJs and the Benefits Review Board de novo. Creek Coal

Co., Inc. v. Bates, 134 F.3d 734, 737 (6th Cir. 1997). But this court reviews Benefits Review

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Board findings about the timeliness of challenges for abuse of discretion. Greene v. King James

Coal Mining, Inc., 575 F.3d 628, 639 (6th Cir. 2009).

Star Fire contends that the Secretary of Labor’s appointment of ALJs to hear Black Lung

Benefits claims is improper. But the question here is whether Star Fire sufficiently raised this

issue in the administrative proceedings to avoid forfeiture. And in a recently published opinion,

this court addressed this exact issue. See Bryan, 937 F.3d at 750. In Bryan, we found that the Act

requires issue-exhaustion. Id. at 749. This means that parties appealing to the Benefits Review

Board must raise specific issues with the Benefits Review Board to preserve those issues for

judicial review. Id. at 750. This court’s “decades-long precedent has refused to consider issues

that parties failed to present to the [Benefits Review] Board.” Id. The petitioners in that case first

challenged the appointment of ALJs in a motion for reconsideration with the Benefits Review

Board. Id. at 744–45. This court held that claims are not properly exhausted before the Benefits

Review Board when they are first raised during a motion for reconsideration. Id. at 751. The

petitioners therefore forfeited the Appointments Clause argument. Id. No exhaustion exception

applied. Id. at 751–54.

Like the petitioners in Bryan, Star Fire did not raise its Appointments Clause argument

until its motion for reconsideration before the Benefits Review Board. Thus, it did not properly

exhaust this issue before the Board and forfeited the claim.

III.

We next address whether the Board correctly found that Judge Gee relied on substantial

evidence when finding mistakes in Judge Sellers’s determinations of fact. When reviewing an

ALJ’s conclusion based on “conflicting medical evidence, our scope of review is exceedingly

narrow.” Peabody Coal Co. v. Odom, 342 F.3d 486, 489 (6th Cir. 2003). We review a factual

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finding of an ALJ “to determine whether it is supported by substantial evidence and is consistent

with applicable law.” Id. Substantial evidence requires “such relevant evidence as a reasonable

mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.” Consol. Edison Co. of N.Y. v. NLRB, 305

U.S. 197, 229 (1938). If substantial evidence exists for an ALJ’s factual findings, we do not disturb

them, even if substantial evidence also supports the contrary. Youghiogheny & Ohio Coal Co. v.

Webb, 49 F.3d 244, 247 (6th Cir. 1995). When ALJ findings are supported by substantial evidence,

we defer to their determinations about credibility and the weight given to medical opinions. Big

Branch Res., Inc. v. Ogle, 737 F.3d 1063, 1072 (6th Cir. 2013). Whether a medical opinion is

well-reasoned is a determination also left to the ALJ, not this court. Id.

Judge Gee found mistakes of fact when analyzing Judge Sellers’s determination. We agree

with the Board’s reasoning in determining that substantial evidence existed to support this award

of benefits, given those mistakes.

First, Judge Gee found it contradictory for Judge Sellers to say that Mr. Napier’s smoking-

induced panlobular emphysema—and not his coal dust-induced centrilobular emphysema—

caused his death. She described this common-sense issue: “[H]ow . . . could [Elhanan Napier]

have two types of emphysema and yet only one contributed to his death[?]” (CA6 R. 25, ALJ Gee

Decision & Order, App. 024.) As the Board noted, Judge Gee correctly found it odd that Judge

Sellers “credited both Dr. Perper’s opinion that coal dust contributed to the [m]iner’s emphysema

and Dr. Oesterling’s opinion that emphysema unrelated to coal dust exposure contributed to the

[m]iner’s death.” (Id., Board Decision & Order, App. 012 (alterations in original).) She

emphasized that Judge Sellers never explained how both premises could logically exist.1

1 Star Fire contends that before ultimately crediting Dr. Perper’s opinion more than Dr. Oesterling’s, Judge Gee impermissibly searched outside the record for information about Dr. Oesterling’s previous opinions in other cases. We find that substantial evidence supports Judge

5 No. 18-3838, Star Fire Coals, Inc., et al. v. OWCP, et al.

In trying to reconcile this discrepancy, Judge Gee ultimately chose Dr. Perper’s testimony

over Dr. Oesterling’s. She noted that Judge Sellers did not credit Dr. Perper’s conclusions enough

because Judge Sellers incorrectly thought silica dust equated to coal dust. Judge Sellers said that

the literature did not establish that coal dust causes lung cancer. But, according to Dr. Perper,

silica dust differs from coal dust and causes much more serious lung damage. Essentially this

means Dr. Perper thought Mr. Napier’s working conditions, where silica dust was present,

contributed more to his lung problems than Dr. Oesterling thought. Judge Sellers failed to

recognize this, according to Judge Gee. Had Judge Sellers done so, he may have seen a greater

connection between Dr. Perper’s opinion and Mr. Napier’s diseases.

And Judge Gee noted that Dr. Oesterling relied on two textbooks in support of coal dust

exposure not causing panlobular emphysema. Dr. Perper’s opinion was more credible to Judge

Gee, in part because Dr. Perper referenced roughly twenty peer-reviewed articles for his

conclusion—that silica dust does cause lung emphysema. Judge Gee again properly noted the

distinction between the textbooks (mainly about coal dust) and the articles (mainly about silica

dust).

We decline Star Fire’s request that we categorically accept textbooks as more credible than

peer-reviewed articles. It is not a rule that textbooks are necessarily more credible than peer-

reviewed articles. Thus, for Judge Gee to weigh more heavily the articles espoused by Dr. Perper

is not an abuse of discretion. Dr. Perper’s reliance on many peer-reviewed articles provided

substantial evidence in support of Judge Gee’s decision.

Gee’s award, even without the contradiction between Dr. Oesterling’s conclusions that Judge Gee found during her search. So we do not opine on the permissibility of this searching.

6 No. 18-3838, Star Fire Coals, Inc., et al. v. OWCP, et al.

What’s more, Judge Gee found Dr. Perper more credible based on the preamble of the

revised regulations that implement the Act. When ALJs are assessing credibility in Black Lung

cases, they may look to the preamble of the revised regulations. A & E Coal Co. v. Adams, 694

F.3d 798, 802 (6th Cir. 2012). During the notice and comment session for the revisions, some

doctors mentioned that coal dust exposure cannot cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

(including emphysema—sufficient for collecting black lung benefits). Id. at 801. Instead, in the

preamble to the regulations, the Department of Labor explicitly rejected this notion, emphasizing

that coal dust exposure can cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Id. While ALJs need

not follow this preamble, they may do so when assessing credibility. Id. at 802. Judge Gee thus

permissibly relied on the preamble in partial support for finding Dr. Oesterling less credible.

Keeping in mind our narrow scope of review and the level of deference given to an ALJ’s

findings, we agree with the Board that Judge Gee’s factual determinations are supported by

substantial evidence.

IV.

Even when an ALJ finds a mistake in a determination of fact, like Judge Gee, the ALJ must

still decide whether reopening the claim would “render justice under the [A]ct.” Banks v. Chi.

Grain Trimmers Ass’n, 390 U.S. 459, 464 (1968). An ALJ should deny a modification request if

granting it would not render justice. Id. Courts review a discretionary decision by an ALJ, such

as whether justice is rendered, for abuse of discretion. See Sharpe v. Dir., OWCP, 495 F.3d 125,

130 (4th Cir. 2007); O’Keeffe v. Aerojet-General Shipyards, Inc., 404 U.S. 254, 256 (1971) (noting

the broad discretion given to today’s district directors and ALJs when correcting mistakes of fact).

7 No. 18-3838, Star Fire Coals, Inc., et al. v. OWCP, et al.

Star Fire argues that Judge Gee did not render justice, and thus abused her discretion, because Mrs.

Napier impermissibly received too many chances to request modification.

The Act incorporates a provision of the Longshore Act that allows parties to request

modifications of awards (or denials) of benefits. See 33 U.S.C. § 922, as incorporated into the Act

by 30 U.S.C. § 932(a). The Supreme Court has defined the scope of the modification remedy

under § 922. See O’Keeffe, 404 U.S. at 254–56. The Court held that requests for modification

under § 922 are not only for cases involving new evidence or changed circumstances. Id. at 255.

While at one time the provision limited reopening to situations involving changed conditions, a

later amendment broadened the rule, according to the Court. Id. “The plain import of this

amendment was to vest a [Labor Department] deputy commissioner with broad discretion to

correct mistakes of fact, whether demonstrated by wholly new evidence, cumulative evidence, or

merely further reflection on the evidence initially submitted.” Id. at 256 (emphasis added).

And when discussing 33 U.S.C. § 922 and O’Keeffe, this court explained that “we

obviously cannot amend the statute or disregard the way the Supreme Court has interpreted [the

modification remedy under § 922].” Youghiogheny and Ohio Coal Co. v. Milliken, 200 F.3d 942,

956 (6th Cir. 1999). “If a claimant merely alleges that the ultimate fact (disability due to

pneumoconiosis) was wrongly decided,” then the district director and later ALJ can entertain a

request for modification. Consol. Coal Co. v. Worrell, 27 F.3d 227, 230 (6th Cir. 1994). This

court made clear that “an ALJ has the right to reweigh the evidence when considering a timely

request for modification,” Milliken, 200 F.3d at 955, suggesting that a requester does not always

need new evidence. And this court has even gone as far as saying that in Black Lung Benefits

cases, a fact-finder may have an outright duty to reweigh factual findings and reconsider evidence.

See Jonida Trucking, Inc. v. Hunt, 124 F.3d 739, 743 (6th Cir. 1997). Most importantly, nowhere

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in § 922 or the accompanying regulations is a claimant limited to a specific number of

modifications. See 33 U.S.C. § 922; 20 C.F.R. § 725.310.

Star Fire claims that Mrs. Napier failed to submit new evidence to Judge Gee and that

Judge Gee just reweighed the evidence that Mrs. Napier presented to Judge Sellers. So, it contends,

Judge Gee did not render justice when granting yet another one of Mrs. Napier’s requests for

modification. But as the Supreme Court and this court’s precedent establishes, an ALJ in a Black

Lung Benefits case is entitled to do that. And as long as the requesting party shows “a mistake in

a determination of fact,” the relevant regulation permits modifications of awards and denials

“regardless of whether the parties have submitted new evidence.” 20 C.F.R. § 725.310(c)

(emphasis added).

What’s more, the Department of Labor prefers “accuracy over finality” in the ultimate

award. Old Ben Coal Co. v. Dir., OWCP, 292 F.3d 533, 541 (7th Cir. 2002). District directors

and ALJs presumably “exercise . . . discretion intelligently, and in a manner that will bring an

appropriate level of finality to black lung benefits decisions.” Milliken, 200 F.3d at 956. We must

generally presume that ALJs cut off requests once they become baseless. Id. Two of Mrs. Napier’s

requests included new evidence. It is not as if she always requested modification without new

evidence, frivolously asking for a mere reweighing of evidence four times.

Judge Gee correctly found that granting the request for modification rendered justice under

the Act. First, she highlighted this need for accuracy. And she recognized that Mrs. Napier was

not litigious in her requests for modification, despite the number of attempts. Lastly, because

substantial evidence showed that Mr. Napier’s working conditions caused his death, Judge Gee

found that the modification request was not futile. See Sharpe, 495 F.3d at 128 (citing these factors

when assessing justice under the Act).

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For these reasons, Judge Gee could reweigh the evidence already submitted, even without

new evidence. She therefore rendered justice under the Act by granting the fourth request for

modification.2

V.

We realize that the result in this case presents what appears to be an incongruity. On the

one hand, Star Fire has forfeited at least two arguments, including what may well be a meritorious

argument under the Appointments Clause. On the other hand, Mrs. Napier was permitted to

request modification at least four times both by asking for nothing more than a reweighing of the

evidence and also by presenting new evidence (though not necessarily evidence that wasn’t

available to her the first time). And, in the end, she found an ALJ willing to credit her claims—

albeit backed by substantial evidence as we detail above. But this is what the law requires here.

In our recent Bryan decision, we found the Appointments Clause argument waived by both an

individual claimant and an employer. In addition, the Government concedes here that an employer

is equally permitted under the statute and the regulations to request subsequent modifications of

initial awards. See 33 U.S.C. § 922; 20 C.F.R. § 725.310(a), (e)(6). At the end of the day, as we

have said before, we trust district directors and ALJs, in the first instance, to police possible abuses

of the modification procedure. Milliken, 200 F.3d at 956.

For all of these reasons, Star Fire’s petition for review is DENIED.

2 Star Fire also argues that Mrs. Napier filed the second, third, and fourth requests for modification too late. It reads § 922 to limit any request to one year after the first denial of benefits. We do not opine on this question because Star Fire forfeited this argument by failing to raise it with the Board during its opening brief. A.R. at 91–111, Employer’s Pet. for Review and Br., Feb. 27, 2017; see Bryan, 937 F.3d at 750 (citing this court’s “decades-long [issue-exhaustion] precedent” when holding that parties must raise specific issues with the Board to preserve them for judicial review).