Federal Court Denies Employer's Petition for Review of Black Lung Benefits Award

A federal appellate court denied an employer’s petition for review of a Black Lung Act Benefits award to a miner. Case: ICG Tygart Valley LLC v. OWCP, No. 23-2214, 07/10/2025, unpublished. Facts and procedural history: An administrative law judge awarded James Allen Braham benefits payable by ICG Tygart Valley LLC under the Black Lung Benefits Act. The Benefits Review Board affirmed. ICG then sought review by the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, contending that the ALJ failed to rationally explain why he credited Dr. Kathleen DePonte’s opinion that Braham had compli...