Litigating Remotely in the Age of COVID-19

Margo Lopez is the Co-Leader of the Mine Safety and Health Practice of Ogletree Deakins. For over 20 years, she has been representing companies nationwide in all segments of the mining industry in cases contesting citations under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act and has argued precedential mine safety cases before U.S. Courts of Appeals. She helps mining companies navigate complex accident investigations, special investigations and safety discrimination cases. She also advises companies concerning regulatory compliance and provides training on safety and health law. Margo Lopez is a frequent speaker and author on mine safety and health topics. She is a co-author of the Occupational Safety and Health Law Handbook and co-writes a monthly column for Pit & Quarry magazine.

Margo Lopez, Ogletree Deakins, 202-263-0244, Margo.Lopez@ogletree.com

Rebecca Mullins is an attorney in the Office of the Solicitor’s Mine Safety and Health Division in Arlington, Virginia. She represents the Mine Safety and Health Administration in trial and appellate proceedings at the Commission and in the courts of appeal. She also works with MSHA to recoup unpaid civil penalties in bankruptcy proceedings. Recently, Rebecca represented MSHA in the Commission’s first remote hearing.

Rebecca Mullins, 202-693-9345 – mullins.rebecca.w@dol.gov

Brad Oakley is a Member of Jackson Kelly PLLC, and practices in the Firm’s Construction, Manufacturing, and Mining law industry groups. He defends his clients’ interests in state and federal courts in Kentucky and any jurisdiction his clients’ needs take him. His clients come from various industry sectors, which highlights Brad’s talent as a quick learner. Brad thrives on meeting clients where they work and learning about their day-to-day operations. Getting to know his clients at the ground level makes Brad an integral part of his clients’ successes.

Brad frequently represents national and local mining, construction, and general industry companies in significant MSHA and OSHA proceedings. Clients call on Brad to represent them when the stakes are high, such as accident and fatality investigations by MSHA and OSHA. In addition, he’s successfully represented operators and management individuals in MSHA 105(c) discrimination claims, 110(c) individual liability proceedings, and state licensing proceedings.

Brad Oakley, Jackson Kelly PLLC, 859-288-2835, kboakley@jacksonkelly.com

Judge Glynn F. Voisin currently serves as Chief Administrative Law Judge of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission. The Commission is an independent adjudicatory agency that provides nationwide administrative trial and appellate review of legal disputes arising under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, as amended, with headquarters and branch office in Washington, D.C. and branch offices in Denver, Colorado and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Chief Administrative Law Judge (CALJ) is head of the Division of Judges and is solely responsible for the management and general administrative supervision of the CALJ office and the three branch offices to ensure the most expeditious and thorough conduct of proceedings coming before the Division.

Prior to serving as Chief Administrative Law Judge of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission, Judge Voisin served as Supervisory Administrative Law Judge, Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals in the Department of Health and Human Services in New Orleans, Louisiana. For 14 years, he served as a Social Security Administration, Office of Hearings Operations administrative law judge (ALJ). In that position, he served in various leadership roles, including New Orleans Hearing Office Chief Administrative Law Judge (8+ years) and Acting Regional Chief Administrative Law Judge in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 2007-2008.

Judge Voisin also served 28 years in the United States Marine Corps Reserve, with four years of active duty and 24 years of reserve duty, including tours in Vietnam and Desert Storm. In 1997, he retired from the Marine Corps Reserve as a Lieutenant Colonel. During his Marine Corps career, he received two Presidential Certificates of Appreciation for Service in the Armed Forces and numerous other medals, citations, and decorations.

Judge Voisin graduated from Nicholls State University in 1970 and from Tulane University School of Law, with honor, in 1977. He is also a graduate of Louisiana State University Public Management Program, from which he received his Certificate of Supervisory Techniques and designation as a Certified Public Manager in 1998. Judge Voisin has also successfully completed numerous courses at the National Judicial College. He is rated AV Preeminent by Martindale Hubbell which represents the highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards.