United States Fourth Circuit

The Black Lung Benefits Act, in plain and unmistakable terms, forbids the settlement of claims for black lung benefits, thus invalidation of a settlement between claimant and his former employer is affirmed.

Appellate Information

• Decided 04/14/2003
• Published 04/14/2003

Judges

• Before GREGORY and SHEDD, Circuit Judges, and BEAM, Senior Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, sitting by designation.

Court

• United States Fourth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellees:
  
• ARGUED:Martin Douglas Wegbreit, Southwest Virginia Legal Aid Society, Inc., Castlewood, Virginia;  Mark Elliott Solomons, Greenberg Traurig, L.L.P., Washington, D.C., for Petitioners.  Edward Waldman, for Enforcement, United States Department Of Labor, Washington, D.C., for Respondent. ON BRIEF:  Laura Metcoff Klaus, Greenberg Traurig, L.L.P., Washington, D.C., for Petitioners.  Eugene Scalia, Solicitor of Labor, Donald S. Shire, Associate Solicitor, Christian P. Barber, for Appellate Litigation, United States Department Of Labor, Washington, D.C., for Respondent.