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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1; text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-size:10pt; ">United States of America</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1; text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:11pt; font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-size:11pt; font-weight:bold; ">OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW COMMISSION</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1; text-align:center; "><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-size:10pt; ">1120 20th Street, N.W., Ninth Floor</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:12px; margin-bottom:3.467px; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">SECRETARY OF LABOR,</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; text-align:center; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">v.</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:7.667px; margin-bottom:3.467px; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">OSHRC DOCKET<span>
									</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">No</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">. 1</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">8-1301</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:8px; margin-bottom:0px; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">TERENCE FROMAN, INC.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">,</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:8px; margin-bottom:0px; text-align:center; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">Respondent.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">Appeara</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">nces:</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">Michael P. Doyle</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">, Esq., Office of Regional Solicitor, U.S. Department</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>of<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">Labor, </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">
					</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">Philadelphia, PA</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>For the Complainant.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">Travis Vance, Esq., Fisher & Phillips, Charlotte, NC</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1; margin-left:48px; "><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">For the Respondent.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:2; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">Before: Administrative Law Judge Keith E. Bell</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:center; "><span style="font-weight:bold; text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:underline ;">DECISION AND ORDER</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">This proceeding is before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">(the Commission)<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">because</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">Terence Froman, Inc.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(Respondent)<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">filed an<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">Equal Access to Justice Act</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Petition for Attorney’s Fees and Costs</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">, 5 U.S.C. §</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">504</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(EAJA)</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>which was</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">filed with the Commission</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>on<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">July 5, 2019</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">. </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">The Secretary of Labor (Secretary) filed his Answer on<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">July<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">31</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">, 2019</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">.</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><a name="ftnref2" href="#ftn2">1</a></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "> Both the Complaint and Answer in this matter were timely filed. </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">Respondent seeks attorney fees in the amount of $4</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">,912</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">5</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">0</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>plus expenses in the amount of $86.60 for a total of $4,999.10</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">
					</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">(</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">Resp’t Pet’n</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">1</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">)</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">. </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">For the reasons that follow, Respondent’s<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">Equal Access to Justice Act Petition for Attorney’s Fees and Costs<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">is hereby DENIED.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:center; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-weight:bold; ">Background</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">On<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">or about February 6, 2018</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">(OSHA)<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">conducted an inspection of Respondent’s worksite located at<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">1619 Moyamensing Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19148</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">. As a result of the inspection,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">a Citation and Notification of Penalty (Citation) package that included<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">one “serious” citation was issued for an alleged violation of<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">s</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">ection 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act,</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">29 U.S.C. § 654</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(a)(1)</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">. The</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">Citation alleged that</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Respondent failed to ensure spring clips were properly installed into the couplings with lever closure of the boom of a Putzmeister concrete pump</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>on<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">February 6, 2018</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">. On August<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">6, 2018</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">, Respondent timely filed its Notice of Contest. </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">This case was docketed by the Commission on<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">August 15, 2018</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">. On or a</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">bout May 13, 2019</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">, the Secretary notified the undersigned of his intent to withdraw the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">Citation</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>in this case. Thereafter, on<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">June 5, 2019</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">, the undersigned issued<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">Notice and Order of Report dismissing the case based on<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">Secretary’s withdrawal</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>with acknowledgment that withdrawals by the Secretary are unreviewable</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">. </span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:center; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-weight:bold; ">Equal Access to Justice Act</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">The</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>EAJA applies to proceedings before the Commission in section 10(c) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, 29 U.S.C. § 65</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">9</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">(c)</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">. It ensures that an eligible applicant is not deterred from seeking review of, or defending against, unjustified Government actions.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">Ewing v. Rodgers</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">, 826 F.2d 967 (10th Cir.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">1987).<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Under EAJA, a</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">n award is made to an eligible applicant w</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">ho is the prevailing party<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">only if the g</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">overnment’s action is found to be without substantial justification and there ar</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">e no special circumstances that</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>make the award unjust.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">Asbestos Abatement Consultation & Eng</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">’g</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">, 15<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">BNA<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">OS</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">HC 1252<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">(No 87–1522, 1991).<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">Under<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">the applicable<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">EAJA</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>provision</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">,</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Respondent</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">, Terence Froman,</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>is an eligible applicant if it</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>ha</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">d</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>a net worth of not more than $7 million and employ</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">ed</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>not more than 500 employees</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>as of the date the contest was filed. 29 C.F.R. § 2204.105(b)(4) and (c).</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "> According to its petition, Respondent meets the EAJA eligibility requirements. </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">(</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">Resp’t Pet’n 2</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">)</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">The EAJA does not routinely award attorneys’ fees and expenses to a prevailing party. While the applicant has the burd</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">en of proving eligibility, the g</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">overnment has the burden of demonstrating that its action was substantially justified.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">Dole v. Phoenix Roofing</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">, Inc. 922 F.2d 1202, 1209 (5th Cir.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">1991), 29 C.F.R. § 2</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">204.106(a).<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="page-break-before:page; "><span style="font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-weight:bold; "></span> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:center; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-weight:bold; ">Timeliness</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">An EAJA application must be filed within thirty days after the period for seeking appellate review expires. 29 C.F.R. §</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">2204.302(a). The<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">undersigned’s<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">Notice of Order and Report acknowledging the Secretary’s withdrawal and dismissing this case was docketed on June 6, 2019</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">. </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">Thereafter, Respondent</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>had sixty days from<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">June 6, 2019</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">, to file any appeal. Fed. R. App. P. Rule 4(a)(B). </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">Respondent’s EAJA application in this case was received by the Commission on<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">July 5, 2019,</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>and its timeliness is undisputed</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">
					</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">Accordingly, t</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">he undersigned finds that the application was timely filed.</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><a name="ftnref3" href="#ftn3">2</a></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:center; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-weight:bold; ">Prevailing Party</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1; text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; text-indent:1.27cm; margin-right:48px; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">A prevailing applicant may receive an award for fees and expenses in connection with a proceeding, or in a discrete substantive portion of the proceedings, unless the position of the<span>
						</span></span><a href=""><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Hyperlink style_Hyperlink " style="color:WindowText; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; text-decoration:underline ;"><span class="IDMEW5D1MHC4YUMYPIOCLWG2I2DLYADJUDQTMBVIHQUBUW0DVXNXB">Secretary</span></span></a><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>was substantially justified. The position of the<span>
						</span></span><a href=""><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Hyperlink style_Hyperlink " style="color:WindowText; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; text-decoration:underline ;"><span class="IDI12ZWSBJLQT5O1GMHI0UPO5PYKHDZ0U2QWWTG5ILEWJFRPZBNRQG">Secretary</span></span></a><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>includes, in addition to the position taken by the<span>
						</span></span><a href=""><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Hyperlink style_Hyperlink " style="color:WindowText; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; text-decoration:underline ;"><span class="IDNKRPNFEZYCYXN1JM3S13I24JTO55W2L5DQZF3WK4X42QLOUESEOD">Secretary</span></span></a><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>in the adversary adjudication, the action or failure to act by the<span>
						</span></span><a href=""><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Hyperlink style_Hyperlink " style="color:WindowText; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; text-decoration:underline ;"><span class="ID2MJ2GTO2AFKVMJ4R2F5KPGMYHOZCXDU5UZ4MPLFBWYF0UM50FWHE">Secretary</span></span></a><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>upon which the adversary adjudication is based. The burden of persuasion that an award should not be made to an eligible prevailing applicant because the<span>
						</span></span><a href=""><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Hyperlink style_Hyperlink " style="color:WindowText; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; text-decoration:underline ;"><span class="IDND2PLGDPVRY1EWBIC0LNALI5SC3M4RBKNVWFKMIRO1FB5PF5VYYE">Secretary</span></span></a><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">'s position was substantially justified is on the<span>
						</span></span><a href=""><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Hyperlink style_Hyperlink " style="color:WindowText; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; text-decoration:underline ;"><span class="IDVV20AJICJ3MTPY2B102DXS3L0IC4FZPY1QTJAHEQEVA1MDFJWS4P">Secretary</span></span></a><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1; text-align:justify; margin-left:48px; text-indent:1.27cm; margin-right:48px; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">29 C.F.R. § 2204.106(a). </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">A party need not have prevailed on all issues.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">It is sufficient that “... the party seeking fees need not have prevailed as to the central issue in the case but only as to a discrete substantive portion of the proceeding.”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">H.P. Fowler Contracting Corp</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">., 11</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">BNA<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">OSHC 1841, 1845<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">(No. 80–3699, 1984).<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">Also, a party may be deemed prevailing if it obtains a favorable settlement of the case</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">; a concept that was grounded in an early committee report of EAJA.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>H.R.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">Rep. No.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>96-</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">1418</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at 11<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">(1980)</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">reprinted in</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">1980 U.S.C.C.A.N. 4984</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">4990</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">(</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">“A party may be deemed prevailing if he obtains a favorable settlement of his case”)</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">
					</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">In the instant case</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">, a resolution was reached based</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>on the Secretary’s withdrawal of his Cita</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">tion</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">involving one “serious” item</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>with a proposed penalty in the amount of $</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">3,049.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">00. </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">The Commission has held that a</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>withdrawal by the Secretary</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>is considered a favorable outcome for Respondent thereby making it the</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>“prevailing party.” </span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">See Valley Constr</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">.</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Co.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">, No.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">92-3644,</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>1995 WL<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">455809, at *1</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">O.S.H.R.C.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">A</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">L</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">J</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">,</span><span><span></span>
					</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">July 20, 1995</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">)</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(finding</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>that Respondent</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>was the “prevailing party” with respect to</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>citations withdrawn by the Secretary</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>as part of a settlement agreement</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">). </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">However,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">this issue has since been addressed by the Supreme Court of the United States and various appellate courts. </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">I</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">n</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">Benton-Georgia, LLC</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">, 26 BNA OSHC<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">1293</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(No. 15-1539</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">, 2016</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">)</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">Benton-Georgia</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">)</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">the administrative law judge<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">concluded</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>that</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>although the Secretary filed a Motion to Withdraw,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">the employer was not a “prevailing party” within the meaning of the Equal Access to Justice Act</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">. In<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">Benton-Georgia</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">, the judge principally relie</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">d</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>on the Supreme Court’s ruling in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">B</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">uckhannon B</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">d.</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; "><span><span></span>
						</span>and Care Home, Inc. v. W. Va. Dept. of Health and Human Res</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">.</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">532 U.S. 598 (2001)</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">Buckhannon</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">)</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">. </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">I</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">n<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">Buckhannon</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">,</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>the Court</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>took certiorari to resolve</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>disagreements among Courts of Appeals regarding the proper test<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">to determine</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>whether an applicant for attorney’s fees under a fee-shifting provision of a statute qualified as a “prevailing party”. </span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">Buckha</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">n</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">non</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">532</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">602.</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">
					</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">Specifically, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals rejec</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">ted</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>the widely used “catalyst theory”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">and held that “a person may not be a prevailing party except by virtue of having obtained<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">an enforceable judgment, consent decree, or settlement giving some of the legal relief sought.”</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><a name="ftnref4" href="#ftn4">3</a></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">Id. </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">U</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">nder the “catalyst theory,” a plaintiff is a “prevailing party” if it achieves the desired result because the lawsuit brought about a voluntary change in the defendant's conduct.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">Buckhannon<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">532 U.S.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">at 601.</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">
					</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">In its analysis,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">the Supreme Court</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>noted that it had not historically awarded attorney’s fees when there was</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>“judicial pronouncement,” unaccompanied by “judicial relief,” is not sufficient to make a claimant a “prevailing party.” </span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">Buckhannon</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">, 532 U.S. at 606</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">citing<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">Hewitt</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; "><span><span></span>
						</span>v. Helms</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">482 U.S. 755, 760<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">(1987).</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">In an EAJA case appealed from an adverse ruling by the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">,</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>which has appellate jurisdiction over this case</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">,</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>held that the mine operator was not a “prevailing party” because the Secretary unilaterally ended the relationship which left Cactus Canyon in the same position it was in before the citations were issued, and the dismissal was not “with prejudice”.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">Cactus Canyon Quarries, Inc. v. Fed</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">.</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Mine Safety and Health Review Comm</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">’n</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">820 F.3d 12, 15 (D.C. Cir. 2016).</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><a name="ftnref5" href="#ftn5">4</a></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">
					</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">Here, the Secretary</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>did not file a motion, but rather</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>a Notice of Withdrawal that simply stated, “[t]he Secretary of Labor withdraws the Citation and Notification of Penalty Issued for Inspection 1294419.” Subsequently, the undersigned issued final order that stated, among other things, “[t]he<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">Commission acknowledges receipt of the Secretary’s notice of withdraw</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">al”. The Order cites<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">Cuyahoga Valley Ry. Co. v. Un</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">i</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">ted Transp. Union,<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">474 U.S. 3 (1985) in which the Supreme Court held that the Secretary’s discretion to withdraw is unreviewable. Finally, the Order dismissed the case making no mention of “prejudice”. </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">The undersigned hereby adopts the well-reasoned and detailed analysis of the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">Benton-Georgia</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>decision</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>and finds that<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">Respondent, Terence Froman,</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>is not a “prevailing party” within the meaning of EAJA because the Secretary’s withdrawal is not the result of a<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">judicial pronouncement</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>that provides judicial relief</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">, but rather a unilateral exercise of prosecutorial discretion.</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><a name="ftnref6" href="#ftn6">5</a></span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:center; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-weight:bold; ">Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">The foregoing decision constitutes the findings of fact and conclusions of law in accordance with Rule 52(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and Rule 308 of the Commission Rules of Procedure. 29 C.F.R. § 2204.308.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:center; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-weight:bold; ">ORDER</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-weight:bold; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">Based on the foregoing, Respondent’s Application for Award Under the Equal Access to Justice Act is hereby DENIED.</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:2; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">
					</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">SO ORDERED</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>by:</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; "> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">Dated:</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">December 2, 2019</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "> /s/</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">_______________________</span></p>
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			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1; margin-left:96px; text-indent:-2.54cm; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">Keith E. Bell</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; ">OSHRC Judge</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1; "> </p>
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			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; "> </p>
			</div>
			<hr/>"
      <div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1; ">
					<a name="ftn-1" href="#ftnref-1"></a> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1; ">
					<a name="ftn0" href="#ftnref0"></a> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1; ">
					<a name="ftn1" href="#ftnref1"></a> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:6.667px; text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn2" href="#ftnref2"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">1 </span></a><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span>Respondent filed its Reply to Complainant’s EAJA Answer on<span>
					</span>August 21, 2019. All filings related to this matter were considered by the undersigned in reaching this decision.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:6.667px; text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn3" href="#ftnref3"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; ">2 </span></a><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span>The Secretary does not dispute the timeliness of Respondent’s EAJA application.</p>
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					<a name="ftn4" href="#ftnref4"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">3 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals was specifically addressing the fee-shifting provisions of the Fair Housing Amendments<span><span></span>
					</span>Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. <span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">Buckhannon</span><span><span></span>
					</span>532 U.S.<span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span>at 601-602. However, in<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">Buckhannon</span>, the Supreme Court was looking more broadly at its prior rulings addressing the issue of “prevailing party”.</p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:6.667px; text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn5" href="#ftnref5"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">4 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>Following the Supreme Court’s analysis in<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">Buckhannon</span>, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals noted that it previously held that the phrase “prevailing party” in fee-shifting statutes should be treated the same unless there is a good reason to do otherwise. <span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">Cactus Canyon</span><span><span></span>
					</span>at 16 (quoting<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">Green Aviation Mgmt. Co.</span>, 676 F.3d 200, 202<span><span></span>
					</span>(D.C. Cir. 2012)).</p>
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				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:6.667px; text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn6" href="#ftnref6"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; ">5 </span></a><span><span></span>
					</span>This result does not disturb the Commission’s prior decision in<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; ">Valley Construction</span><span><span></span>
					</span>because the withdrawal here was not part of a settlement agreement.</p>
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