Stephen S. Slatick v. Director, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, U.S. Department of Labor

BY THE COURT:

Stephen Slatick was exposed to coal dust within the territorial jurisdiction of the Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. He subsequently moved to Florida where he learned that he was suffering from “black lung” disease. He brought a claim for black lung benefits with the Benefits Review Board of the United States Department of Labor. The Benefits Review Board denied Slatick’s claim.

Slatick then sought to appeal this ruling. The Labor Department, in a letter to Slatick on October 23, 1981, advised Slatick that he had 60 days to file an appeal in this court. The Labor Department…