Opinion ID: 8407628
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: standard of review

Text: This court reviews questions of law de novo, but defers to the legal conclusions of the Board if reasonably grounded in the law and not inconsistent with the Act. Valmont Indus. v. NLRB, 244 F.3d 454, 464 (5th Cir.2001). With respect to mixed questions of law and fact, this court must sustain the Board’s application of its legal interpretations to the facts of the particular case when supported by substantial evidence based upon the record considered as a whole. See Beth Israel Hosp. v. NLRB, 437 U.S. 483, 501, 98 S.Ct. 2463, 2473-74, 57 L.Ed.2d 370 (1978). Similarly, the Board’s factual determinations must be upheld if supported by substantial evidence. See Universal Camera Corp. v. NLRB, 340 U.S. 474, 487-88, 71 S.Ct. 456, 464-65, 95 L.Ed. 456 (1951). Under the substantial evidence standard, “the ALJ’s decision must be upheld if a reasonable person could have found what the ALJ found, even if the appellate court might have reached a different conclusion.” Valmont Indus., 244 F.3d at 463. In reviewing the record, this court is obligated to consider evidence that detracts from the Board’s findings. Asarco, Inc. v. NLRB, 86 F.3d 1401, 1406 (5th Cir.1996). When credibility issues arise, this court is “bound by the credibility choices of the ALJ, unless (1) the credibility choice is unreasonable, (2) the choice contradicts other findings, (3) the choice is based upon inadequate reasons or no reason, or (4) the ALJ failed to justify his or her choice.” NLRB v. Motorola, Inc., 991 F.2d 278, 282 (5th Cir.1993).