Opinion ID: 537072
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Plain Language of the Longshore Act

Text: 12 The plain language of the Longshore Act, incorporated into the Black Lung Benefits Act, 30 U.S.C. Sec. 932(a) (1982), mandates an ALJ hearing on any claim filed with a deputy commissioner whenever a party requests such a hearing. The applicable statutory provisions prescribe the basic adjudication procedures for all black lung and longshore claims. First, a claim for compensation may be filed with the deputy commissioner. 33 U.S.C. Sec. 919(a) (1982). After investigating the claim and upon application of any interested party[, the deputy commissioner] shall order a hearing [on the claim]. 33 U.S.C. Sec. 919(c) (1982). This hearing shall be conducted by a[n] administrative law judge in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act. 33 U.S.C. Sec. 919(d) (1982) (emphasis added). 13 Thus, the statute mandates an ALJ hearing, on the record, upon request. The Longshore Act provides no authority for an appeal directly from a deputy commissioner to the Board, which is the procedure ordered by the Board in the decision below. Accordingly, it appears that Congress has directly spoken to the precise question of a claimant's right to an ALJ hearing, and this unambiguously expressed intent must be given effect. Chevron, U.S.A. v. NRDC, 467 U.S. 837, 842-43, 104 S.Ct. 2778, 2781-82, 81 L.Ed.2d 694 (1984). But even if the Longshore Act could be read as containing any ambiguity on this issue, the Director's interpretation must still be upheld as a permissible construction of the statute. Id. at 843, 104 S.Ct. at 2782.