I. STATUTE AND REGULATIONS Statutory and Regulatory History Constitutionality Preemption Retroactive Application Statutory and Regulatory Interpretation Reference to Other Federal Laws for Interpretive Guidance Value of ALJ Decisions as Precedence Whether Section 1513(e) Creates a Private Cause of Action Chevron Deference II. REMOVAL TO FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT Appeal of Secretary's Final Decision Bad Faith Collateral Estoppel Dismissal of DOL Complaint, Procedure Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies Mandamus When DOL Jurisdiction Ends Notice to DOL of Intent to Remove Motion to Reopen III. PROCEDURE BEFORE AND REVIEW BY FEDERAL COURTS Declaratory Judgment Discovery Party Not Named in Administrative Complaint Judicial Notice of Administrative Record Jury Trial Justiciable Issues Recusal Standard of Review Short and Plain Statement of the Case Summary Judgment Trial Management IV. REQUEST FOR HEARING Answer to Request for Hearing (Not Required) Cross-Appeal Failure to Serve Opposing Party Timeliness Equitable Tolling Date of Receipt of OSHA Determination Request for Extension of Time to File Hearing Request V. FILING OF COMPLAINT Timeliness Generally Trigger Date; Final, Definitive and Unequivocal Notice Private Tolling Agreement Post-termination Events Amendment of Complaint ALJ's Authority to Raise Issue in Order to Show Cause Equitable Tolling [filing in the wrong forum; severance agreements; ignorance of the law; etc.] Filing Directly With the Secretary Protected Activity Prior to Effective Date of SOX, But Adverse Action After Effective Date Whether the Respondent Must File an Answer to the Complaint VI. PROCEDURE BEFORE ARB Authority Briefing Consolidation of Appeals Declination of Review Interlocutory Appeals Pro Se Litigants Reconsideration Standard and Scope of Review Subtantial Evidence ALJ Findings of Fact ALJ Credibility Findings New Evidence/Argument Waiver Stay of ARB Order Substitution of Party Timeliness of Petition for Review Time Period for ARB Review VII. PROCEDURE BEFORE OALJ Amendment of Complaint ALJ Authority to Control Hearing Claim Splitting Decision and Order De Novo Proceedings Discovery Pro Se Litigants Reconsideration Recusal Remand to OSHA Service by ALJ Subpoenas Summary Decision Time Calculations Witnesses VIII. PROTECTION OF INFORMATION; PRIVACY; CONFIDENTIALITY Admonishments Complaint and Investigatory Materials Discovery Judicial Restraint in Drafting Decision Protective Order Pseudonyms Public Hearing Publication of Decisions Sealing the Record Striking Privileged Information IX. PRIVILEGES AND NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS Attorney-Client Privilege Litigation Privilege Non-Disclosure Agreements X. COVERED RESPONDENT Non-Publicly Traded Company [Non-Profit; Governmental Entity; Contractor; Representative, etc.] Non-Publicly Traded Subsidiary of Publicly Traded Parent, Generally Pleading; Amendment of Complaint Agency, Piercing the Corporate Veil, Intertwined Operations Extraterritorial Coverage Joint Venture Not a Publicly Traded Company at the Time of the Adverse Action Section 15(d) Exempt Company Liability of Individuals Liability of Company Engaged for Turnaround/Corporate Restructuring XI. COVERED EMPLOYEE Employee of Non-Publicly Traded Company Employee of Non-Publicly Traded Subsidiary of Publicly Traded Parent Employee Whose Work Was Outside the United States Contractor XII. ARBITRATION AGREEMENTS; SEVERANCE AGREEMENTS Arbitration Agreements Severance Agreements XIII. BURDEN OF PROOF AND PRODUCTION A. IN GENERAL B. PRIMA FACIE CASE C. ADVERSE ACTION In General After-Acquired Evidence Complainant's Subjective Belief Evidence of Prior Acts Former Employee Reasonable Employee/Materially Adverse Standard (Burlington Northern) Summary Decision Tangible Job Consequence Specific Conduct Blacklisting Breach of Confidentiality Constructive Discharge Demotion/Reduced Responsibilities Failure to Hire Paid Administrative Leave Failure to Promote Hostile Work Environment Increased Scrutiny of Work Layoffs/Reorganization Litigation Conduct Offering Severance Benefits in Return for a General Release Performance Evaluation Refusal to Communicate With the Complainant Setting Conditions About Continued Employment Transfer Termination From Employment D. CAUSATION Contributing Factor/Motiving Factor Standard Adverse Inference Summary Decision Temporal Proximity Respondent's Knowledge Complainant's Admission of Misconduct E. PROTECTED ACTIVITY Definitively and Specifically Standard Fraud Against Shareholders F. PRETEXT G. DUAL MOTIVE H. CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE STANDARD XIV. DAMAGES AND OTHER REMEDIES A. REINSTATEMENT After-Acquired Evidence Enforcement Impossibility Front Pay Procedure Sanctions Stay B. COMPENSATORY DAMAGES C. SPECIAL DAMAGES D. PUNITIVE DAMAGES E. ATTORNEYS' FEES XV. FRIVOLOUS COMPLAINT; SANCTIONS; COMPLAINANT'S PARTICIPATION IN WRONGFUL CONDUCT XVI. SETTLEMENTS XVII. DISMISSALS AND WITHDRAWALS Dismissal for Cause Voluntary Dismissal XVIII. ATTORNEYS AND REPRESENTATIVES XIX. BANKRUPTCY XX. RES JUDICATA XXI. EVIDENCE XXII. IMMUNITY
I.
STATUTE AND REGULATIONS
II.
REMOVAL TO FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT
III.
PROCEDURE BEFORE AND REVIEW BY FEDERAL COURTS
IV.
REQUEST FOR HEARING
V.
FILING OF COMPLAINT
VI.
PROCEDURE BEFORE ARB
VII.
PROCEDURE BEFORE OALJ
VIII.
PROTECTION OF INFORMATION; PRIVACY; CONFIDENTIALITY
IX.
PRIVILEGES AND NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS
X.
COVERED RESPONDENT
XI.
COVERED EMPLOYEE
XII.
ARBITRATION AGREEMENTS; SEVERANCE AGREEMENTS
XIII.
BURDEN OF PROOF AND PRODUCTION
A.
IN GENERAL
B.
PRIMA FACIE CASE
C.
ADVERSE ACTION
D.
CAUSATION
E.
PROTECTED ACTIVITY
F.
PRETEXT
G.
DUAL MOTIVE
H.
CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE STANDARD
XIV.
DAMAGES AND OTHER REMEDIES
REINSTATEMENT
COMPENSATORY DAMAGES
SPECIAL DAMAGES
PUNITIVE DAMAGES
ATTORNEYS' FEES
XV.
FRIVOLOUS COMPLAINT; SANCTIONS; COMPLAINANT'S PARTICIPATION IN WRONGFUL CONDUCT
XVI.
SETTLEMENTS
XVII.
DISMISSALS AND WITHDRAWALS
XVIII.
ATTORNEYS AND REPRESENTATIVES
XIX.
BANKRUPTCY
XX.
RES JUDICATA
XXI.
EVIDENCE
XXII.
IMMUNITY