Federal Court Upholds Award of Black Lung Benefits to Miner's Widow

A federal appellate court denied an employer’s petition for review of an award of Black Lung Act benefits to a coal miner’s widow. Case: Consol Mining Co. LLC v. OWCP, No. 24-1873. 07/10/2025, unpublished. Facts and procedural history: Stanley D. Silk worked as an underground coal miner for 39 years before his death. An administrative law judge found that Silk’s widow was entitled to compensation under the Black Lung Benefits Act, payable by Consol Mining Co. LLC. The ALJ applied a rebuttable presumption that Silk died because of pneumoconiosis and found Consol had f...