Melvin Sidwell v. Virginia International Terminals, Inc. Director, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, United States Department of Labor

Worker Wins Fight Over Who Pays for Job-Related Hearing Loss

Melvin Sidwell, a union president at Virginia International Terminals, suffered hearing loss from noise exposure during his years working at the port. When he filed for workers' compensation benefits, a dispute arose over which employer was responsible for paying his claim. The lower courts initially ruled that his role as union president counted as maritime work, which would have made a different entity responsible for his benefits.

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals disagreed and overturned that decision. The court found that Sidwell's position as union local president did not qualify as maritime employment under federal law. This meant Virginia International Terminals remained the responsible employer and had to cover his noise-induced hearing loss claim.

This ruling matters for workers because it clarifies that employers cannot escape responsibility for workplace injuries by arguing that a worker's additional duties (like union leadership) change who must pay for workers' compensation. When workers suffer job-related injuries or illnesses, their primary employer typically remains liable for benefits, even if the worker has taken on other roles. This protects workers from being caught in disputes between different potential payers while they need medical care and compensation.