So construed, we APPROVE the terms of the settlement agreement pertaining to Taylor's STAA claim, and DISMISS the complaint with prejudice.
SO ORDERED.
M. CYNTHIA DOUGLASS
Chief Administrative Appeals Judge
DAVID G. DYE
Administrative Appeals Judge
[ENDNOTES]
1 49 U.S.C.A. § 31105 (West 1997).
2 Complainant's Motion, August 3, 2006, ALJ No. 2006-STA-19, at 1.
3 Id.
4 29 C.F.R. § 1978.111(d)(2) (2006).
5 Id.
6 29 C.F.R. § 1978.109(c)(2); Monroe v. Cumberland Transp. Corp., ARB No. 01-101, ALJ No. 00-STA-50 (ARB Sept. 26, 2001); Cook v. Shaffer Trucking Inc., ARB No. 01-051, ALJ No. 00-STA-17 (ARB May 30, 2001).
7 29 C.F.R. § 1978.109(c)(2).
8 Complainant's Letter dated Sept. 5, 2006.
9 Beliveau v. Naval Undersea Warfare Ctr., ARB No.99-070, ALJ No. 97-SDW-6, slip op. at 2 (ARB June 30, 1999), citing Macktal v. Brown & Root, ALJ No. 86-ERA-23 (Sec'y Nov. 14, 1989).
10 Eash v. Roadway Express, Inc., ARB No. 99-037, ALJ No. 98-STA-28, slip op. at 8 (ARB Oct 29, 1999), citing Carr v. Runyan, 89 F.3d 327, 331 (7th Cir. 1996).
11 Trechak v. Am. Airlines, Inc., ARB No. 03-141, ALJ No. 2003-AIR-5, slip op. at 2 (ARB March 19, 2004); see Beliveau, ARB No.99-070.
12 Beliveau, ARB No. 99-070, slip op. at 2; see Macktal, ALJ No. 86-ERA-23 (Sec'y Nov. 14, 1989).
13 Cummings v. USA Truck, Inc., ARB No. 04-043, ALJ No. 03-STA-47, slip op. at 2 (ARB Apr. 26, 2005), quoting Young v. Schlumberger Oil Field Servs., ARB No. 00-075, ALJ No. 2000-STA-28, slip op. at 8-10 (ARB Feb. 2003), citing Hughes v .Rowe, 449 U.S. 5 (1980).
14 Id.
15 Griffith v. Wackenhut Corp., ARB No. 98-067, ALJ No. 97-ERA-52, slip op. at 10 n.7 (ARB Feb. 29, 2000), quoting Dozier v. Ford Motor Co., 702 F.2d 1189, 1194 (D.C. Cir. 1983).
16 Employee Waiver and Release of All Claims Agreement, para 1.
17 Id.
18 Employee Waiver and Release of All Claims Agreement, para. 11.
19 Ruud v. Westinghouse Hanford Co., ARB Nos. 99-023, 99-028, ALJ No. 88-ERA-33, slip op. at 14 (ARB Apr. 19, 2002).
20 42 U.S.C.A. § 7622(e)(1) (West 2003) provides,
Any person on whose behalf an order was issued under paragraph (2) of subsection (b) [referencing, among other forms of relief, settlements], may commence a civil action against the person to whom such order was issued to require compliance with such order. The appropriate United States district court shall have jurisdiction, without regard to the amount in controversy or the citizenship of the parties, to enforce such order.
21 49 U.S.C.A. § 31105(d). Although the Secretary of Labor has delegated her authority to "act for the Secretary of Labor in review or on appeal "of matters arising under the STAA, she has not delegated her authority to bring actions to enforce STAA settlements in district court to the Board. See Secretary's Order No. 1-2002, 67 Fed. Reg. 64,272 (Oct. 17, 2002) (Delegation of Authority and Assignment of Responsibility to the Administrative Review Board).
22 Employee Waiver and Release of All Claims Agreement, para 11.
23 See Hall v. United States Army, ARB Nos. 02-108, 03-013, ALJ No. 1997-SDW-00005, slip op. at 6 (ARB Dec. 30, 2004).
24 Jencks v. Modern Woodmen of America, 479 F.3d 1261, 1266-1267 (2007).
25 Employee Waiver and Release of All Claims Agreement, paras. 2(a), (b).
26 Employee Waiver and Release of All Claims Agreement, paras. 2, 2(b), 2(c).
27 Fish v. H & R Transfer, ARB No. 01-071, ALJ No. 00-STA-56, slip op. at 2 (ARB Apr. 30, 2003).
28 Employee Waiver and Release of All Claims Agreement, para. 13.
29 5 U.S.C.A. § 552 (West 1996).
30 Coffman v. Alyeska Pipeline Serv. Co. and Arctic Slope Inspection Serv., ARB No. 96-141, ALJ Nos. 96-TSC-5, 6, slip op. at 2 (ARB June 24, 1996).
31 29 C.F.R. § 70 et seq. (2006).
32 See Phillips v. Citizens' Ass'n for Sound Energy, No. 91-ERA-25, slip op. at 2 (Sec'y Nov. 4, 1991).