United States Fourth Circuit

The Coal Industry Retiree Health Benefit Act of 1992, 26 USC 9701-9722, allows the Social Security Administration to exercise its assignment authority for employee health care premiums, including making new assignments, after October 1, 1993.

Appellate Information

• Argued 01/25/2001
• Decided 10/18/2001
• Published 10/18/2001

Judges

• Before NIEMEYER and KING, Circuit Judges, and LEE, United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia, sitting by designation.

Court

• United States Fourth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellees:
  
• ARGUED:  Peter Buscemi, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, L.L.P., Washington, DC, for Appellants. Jeffrey A. Clair, Civil Division, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Amicus Curiae. Mary Lou Smith, Howe, Anderson & Steyer, P.C., Washington, DC, for Appellees. ON BRIEF:  David W. Allen, Office of the General Counsel, UMWA Health & Retirement Funds, Washington, DC;  John R. Mooney, Mooney, Green, Gleason, Baker, Gibson & Saindon, P.C., Washington, DC, for Appellants.   David W. Ogden, Assistant Attorney General, Robert P. Crouch, Jr., United States Attorney, Mark B. Stern, Civil Division, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Amicus Curiae.  Daniel R. Bieger, Copeland, Molinary & Bieger, P.C., Abingdon, VA, for Appellees.