Duc Ngoan Mai v. Director, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, United States Department of Labor

**Worker Denied Benefits for Injury at Maritime Facility** Duc Ngoan Mai worked at a facility and was injured on the job. He filed for workers' compensation benefits under a special federal law called the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act, which provides coverage for certain maritime workers. Mai argued that his work qualified him for these enhanced federal benefits because it was connected to maritime activities. The court disagreed with Mai's claim. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld earlier decisions that denied his benefits application. The court found that Mai's actual job duties were not sufficiently related to maritime work to qualify for coverage under this special federal program. Additionally, the court supported the judge's decision not to hold it against the employer when certain evidence wasn't provided during the case. **What This Means for Workers:** This ruling shows that workers' compensation coverage depends heavily on the specific nature of your job duties, not just where you work. Even if you're injured at a facility near water or ports, you may not qualify for special maritime workers' benefits unless your actual work tasks are directly connected to maritime operations. Workers should understand which compensation program covers their specific job to know what benefits they're entitled to if injured.