HHS Must Restore Fired Coal Safety Researchers, Judge Says (1)

The Department of Health and Human Services must restore all laid-off federal researchers who conduct health surveillance of coal miners while a legal challenge to those firings proceeds, a West Virginia federal judge said.

Judge Irene C. Berger, of the US District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, granted a coal miner’s request to compel the HHS to restore all personnel in the Respiratory Health Division of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

“Uncontroverted evidence before the Court overwhelmingly establishes that the mandatory statutory duties cannot effectively be fulfilled without an injunction terminating the RIFs,” said ...