Court Upholds Regulation Extending Time for Miner to File BLBA Claim

A federal appellate court upheld a Department of Labor regulation allowing for an extension of time for a miner to file a claim under the Black Lung Benefits Act upon a showing of “extraordinary circumstances.” Case: Big Horn Coal Co. v. Sadler, No. 17-9558, 06/04/2019, published. Facts and procedural history: Edgar Sadler worked as a miner for the Big Horn Coal Co. in Wyoming. He developed pneumoconiosis, and doctors diagnosed him with a total disability in 2005. Sadler filed a claim under the Black Lung Benefits Act in 2010. The BLBA's statute of limitations generally req...