Case ID: f-appx_236/html/0273-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Duc Ngoan MAI, Claimant, Petitioner, v. DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR; Knight & Carver Marine, Employer; and Signal Mutual Indemnity Association, Insurance Carrier, Respondents.
    No. 04-76279.
    United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
    Argued and Submitted Feb. 7, 2007.
    Filed May 29, 2007.
    
      Eric A. Dupree, Esq., San Diego, CA, for Petitioner.
    James P. Aleccia, Esq., Aleccia & Conner, Long Beach, CA, Thomas Shepard, Benefit Review Board Clerk of the Benefit Review Board, Carol Dedeo, Associate Solicitor, Mark A. Reinhalter, Michael Niss, Richard A. Seid, U.S. Department of Labor Office of the Solicitor, Washington, DC, Phillip Williams, U.S. Department of Labor District Director, San Francisco, CA, for Respondents.
    Before: T.G. NELSON, SILER, and HAWKINS, Circuit Judges.
    
      
       The Honorable Eugene E. Siler, Jr., Senior United States Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit, sitting by designation.
    
   MEMORANDUM

Due Ngoan Mai petitions for review of the final decision and order of the Benefits Review Board (“BRB”) denying his claim under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (“LHWCA”), 33 U.S.C. § 901 et seq. The BRB affirmed the Administrative Law Judge’s (“ALJ”) determination that Mai’s job duties were not related to the construction or repair of boats, and, therefore, he was not a maritime employee covered under the LHWCA. Mai argues that the ALJ should have drawn an adverse inference against the employer regarding his job duties because the employer failed to introduce his time cards into evidence.

A fact finder has discretion in deciding whether to draw an adverse inference, so long as the decision is based upon a sound rationale. See UAW v. NLRB, 459 F.2d 1329, 1339 (D.C.Cir.1972); Alberta Pork Producers’ Mktg. Bd. v. United States, 669 F.Supp. 445, 459 (Ct. Int’l Trade 1987). Because the ALJ found that Mai had not established a prima facie case under the LHWCA based solely on his own testimony, see Wood v. CIR, 338 F.2d 602, 605 (9th Cir.1964), the ALJ acted within his discretion when he refused to apply the adverse inference rule in Mai’s favor.

PETITION DENIED. 
      
       This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.