DOL Home > OALJ > Whistleblower > Dahl v. Illinois Power Co., 96-ERA-39 (ARB Mar. 7, 1997) |
ARB CASE NO. 97-059
ALJ CASE NO. 96-ERA-39
DATE: March 7, 1997
In the Matter of:
KURT DAHL,
v.
ILLINOIS POWER COMPANY,
COMPLAINANT,
RESPONDENT.
BEFORE: THE ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW BOARD1
This case arises under the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 (ERA), as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 5851 (1988 and Supp. IV 1992). The parties submitted a otion for Approval of Settlement Agreement and Dismissal with Prejudice seeking approval of the settlement and dismissal of the complaint. The Adminisrative Law Judge issued a Recommended Decision and Order on February 18, 1997 approving the settlement.
The request for approval is based on an agreement entered into by the parties, therefore, we must review it to determine whether the terms are a fair, adequate and reasonable settlement of the complaint. 29 C.F.R. § 24.6. Macktal v. Secretary of Labor, 923 F.2d 1150, 1153-54 (5th Cir. 1991); Thompson v. U.S. Dep't of Labor, 885 F.2d 551, 556 (9th Cir. 1989); Fuchko and Yunker v. Georgia Power Co., Case Nos. 89-ERA-9, 89-ERA-10, Sec. Order, Mar. 23, 1989, slip op. at 1-2.
Review of the agreement reveals that it may encompass the settlement of matters under laws other than the ERA. See Paragraph 2.1. As stated in Poulos v. Ambassador Fuel Oil Co., Inc., Case No. 86-CAA-1, Sec. Order, Nov. 2, 1987, slip op. at 2:
We have therefore, limited our review of the agreement to determining whether the terms thereof are a fair, adequate and reasonable settlement of Complainant's allegation that Respondent violated the ERA.
Paragraph 4.1 provides that the agreement will be governed by the laws of Illinois. We construe this to except the authority of the Secretary of Labor and any Federal court which shall be governed in all respects by the laws and regulations of the United States. See Phillips v. Citizens' Ass'n for Sound Energy, Case No. 91-ERA-25, Final Ord. of Dismissal, Nov. 4, 1991, slip op. at 2.
We find that the agreement, as so construed, is a fair, adequate, and reasonable settlement of the complaint. Accordingly, we APPROVE the agreement and DISMISS THE COMPLAINT WITH PREJUDICE. See Settlement Agreement ¶ 1.2.
SO ORDERED.
DAVID A. O'BRIEN
Chair
KARL J. SANDSTROM
Member
JOYCE D. MILLER
Alternate Member
1 On April 17, 1996, a Secretary's Order was signed delegating jurisdiction to issue final agency decisions under this statute to the newly created Administrative Review Board. 61 Fed. Reg. 19978 (May 3, 1996). Secretary's Order 2-96 contains a comprehensive list of the statutes, executive order, and regulations under which the Administrative Review Board now issues final agency decisions. Final procedural revisions to the regulations implementing this reorganization were also published on May 3, 1996. 61 Fed. Reg. 19982.