Case ID: f-appx_714/html/0746-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Bernard CASTRO and Eric A. Dupree, Attorney for Claimant Bernard Castro, Petitioners, v. SSA TERMINALS, LLC; et al., Respondents.
    No. 16-73170
    United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
    Argued and Submitted February 15, 2018 San Francisco, California
    Filed March 5, 2018
    Lara Merrigan, Merrigan Legal, San Rafael, CA, Joshua Thomas Gillelan, II, Esquire, Attorney, Longshore Claimants’ National Law Center, Washington, DC, for Petitioners
    Judith Ann Leichtnam, Attorney, Bru-yneel & Leichtnam, LLP, San Francisco, CA, Alan Chang, Attorney, Bruyneel Law Firm LLP, San Francisco, CA, for Respondents SSA Terminals, LLC, Home-port Insurance Co.
    Mark A. Reinhalter, Counsel, Sarah Hurley, Esquire, LABR—U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Solicitor, Washington, DC, for Respondent Director, Office of Workers’ Compensation Program
    Before: SCHROEDER, TORRUELLA, and FRIEDLAND, Circuit Judges.
    
      
       The Honorable Juan R. Torruella, United States Circuit Judge for the First Circuit, sitting by designation.
    
   MEMORANDUM

Eric Dupree appeals from the Benefits Review Board’s (“BRB”) denial of his petition for attorney’s fees under the Long-shore and Harborworkers’ Compensation Act (“Longshore Act”). We have jurisdiction pursuant to 33 U.S.C. § 921(c), and we DENY the petition for review.

“The decision of the BRB is reviewed for substantial evidence and errors of law.” Van Skike v. Dir., OWCP, 557 F.3d 1041, 1045 (9th Cir. 2009). Factual findings are supported by substantial evidence if “a reasonable mind might accept [such evidence] as adequate to support a conclusion.” E.P. Paup Co. v. Dir., OWCP, 999 F.2d 1341, 1353 (9th Cir. 1993) (quoting Lockheed Shipbldg. v. Dir., OWCP, 951 F.2d 1143, 1145 (9th Cir. 1991)).

Here, the BRB’s decision that Bernard Castro did not successfully prosecute his Longshore Act claim as required by 33 U.S.C. § 928(a) was based on factual determinations that are supported by substantial evidence. First, substantial evidence supports the conclusion that the parties did not intend for a Section 3(e) credit to offset any liability imposed under the Longshore Act, see 33 U.S.C. § 903(e), because the settlement agreement stated that Castro was to receive “a lump sum payment of $0.00 under the [Longshore Act].” In other words, it is reasonable to conclude that the settlement did not impose any liability under the Longshore Act against which a Section 3(e) credit could apply.

Second, given that Castro received no payment under the Longshore Act, substantial evidence supports the conclusion that the parties did not intend for the $4,000 payment to serve as consideration for the release of Castro’s Longshore Act claim. Even if the parties structured the agreement to avoid fees under the Act, such a structure is permissible after Evans v. Jeff D., 475 U.S. 717, 106 S.Ct. 1531, 89 L.Ed.2d 747 (1986).

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