Opinion ID: 443197
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: vindictive and selective prosecution

Text: 36 Beiro claims that it was a victim of vindictive and selective prosecution. To support these claims, Beiro argues that OSHA upped the ante, maximizing the penalties against Beiro in response to Beiro's exercise of its constitutional right to demand a warrant, and that OSHA targeted Beiro for enforcement because of its non-union status. See Brief for Beiro at 60-63. The decision of the ALJ rejected both arguments. See ALJ Decision at 30. 37 The ALJ rejected Beiro's vindictive prosecution claim because the authorities relied upon by Beiro were inapplicable since they related to criminal, not civil cases, and because the claim was not supported by the evidence. Specifically, the ALJ noted that the penalties set forth in a citation are only proposed penalties since under the Act, 29 U.S.C. Sec. 666(i), the Commission has the obligation to assess penalties when contested by the employer. See, e.g., Long Mfg. Co. v. OSHRC, 554 F.2d 903 (8th Cir.1977) (penalties when contested are assessed by Commission and not the Secretary); California Stevedore & Ballast Co. v. OSHRC, 517 F.2d 986 (9th Cir.1975) (Secretary's proposed penalty only effective if not contested). In this regard, the Tenth Circuit has noted that an increased penalty can be imposed only by the Commission, not the Secretary, and it is subject to judicial review. Thus the possibility of vindictiveness is negligible. Clarkson Constr. Co. v. OSHRC, 531 F.2d 451, 456 (10th Cir.1976). In addition, as the Secretary points out, the proposed penalties assessed against Beiro were not the maximum allowable penalties under the Act. 13 See Brief for Secretary at 45. Finally, the ALJ found no appearance of vindictiveness in Mr. Tupper's conduct. To the contrary, he found Mr. Tupper conducted the inspection with a high degree of professionalism. ALJ Decision at 32. Beiro has no basis for a vindictive prosecution claim. This claim was properly rejected by the ALJ. We find it unnecessary to reach the question of whether a vindictive prosecution claim can ever be brought in a civil OSHA proceeding. 38 The ALJ made no mention of whether a selective prosecution claim is equally available in both civil and criminal proceedings. Since we affirm the ALJ's rejection of Beiro's selective prosecution claim on substantive grounds, we have no occasion to address this question. Beiro's presence at the site, let alone its non-union status, was not known by OSHA until after the inspection was initiated. See ALJ Decision at 32-33. OSHA did inspect the Beiro work areas first, before the specific complaint against Western Steel Erectors. The ALJ, however, found Mr. Tupper's explanation, that he wished to quickly conclude the inspection of Beiro so that the remainder of the inspection could proceed smoothly and expeditiously, creditable. ALJ Decision at 15-16. Finally, Beiro was not the only contractor cited for violations. Midwest Steel Erectors, Fuller-Griffin, and MTI Construction Company also received citations for violations. See Complainant's Answers to Interrogatories, No. 6, Appendix Vol. I, Tab. 3, at 6. Beiro has not met the high threshold standards necessary to establish a defense of selective prosecution. See United States v. Mangieri, 694 F.2d 1270 (D.C.Cir.1982). Beiro was not singled out from others similarly situated for prosecution. Nor was the decision to prosecute Beiro improperly motivated. The ALJ did not err in rejecting Beiro's selective prosecution claim.