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Tips for Finding Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Decisions

Finding ALJ Decisions in Regulations.gov

Administrative Law Judge (AJL) Decisions are located in the Federal Docket Management System (FDMS), Regulations.gov. To search for ALJ Decisions using the Advanced Search method, use relevant search terms as shown below:

General Searching Tips
ALJ Decisions – Generally
Agency:DOT, FAA, FHWA, FMCSA, FRA, MARAD, NHTSA, PHMSA
Action Type:Nonrulemaking
Terms:“Office of Hearings” “Suite E12-320” “Room 5411” “M-20” “M20” “Administrative Law Judge” “ALJ” “Chief Administrative Law Judge” “CALJ”
“Isaac D. Benkin” (ALJ, 8/22/05-present)
“Ann Cook” (ALJ 11/1/93-9/22/98)
“Richard C. Goodwin” (ALJ 4/4/04-present)
“Burton S. Kolko” (ALJ 11/10/88-1990; 9/3/95-7/1/05)
“James W. Lawson” (ALJ, 11/15/99-7/25/02)
“John Mathias” (CALJ, 8/2/90-1/22/97)
“Roy J. Maurer” (CALJ, 3/2/97-1/1/99)
“Ronnie A. Yoder” (ALJ, 1/1/85-6/30/01; CALJ 7/1/01-present)
Search Tips for FAA Civil Penalty Cases
ALJ Decisions –FAA Civil Penalty Cases
Agency:FAA
Action Type:Nonrulemaking
Terms:“Civil Penalty Action” “CP” “Complaint” “Complainant” “Respondent” “14 CFR” “Part 13” “Pt. 13” “Subpart G” “Subpt. G”
Example:Great Lakes Aviation, Inc., FAA Docket No. CP09WP0008, DMS No. FAA-2009-0103, Order of Dismissal (Served April 5, 2010) (Goodwin, ALJ)
Tips for Search for Equal Access to Justice Cases
ALJ Decisions –Equal Access to Justice Cases
Agency:DOT, FAA, FHWA, FMCSA and/or PHMSA
Action Type:Nonrulemaking
Terms:“Equal Access to Justice Act” “EAJA” “14 CFR” “Part 14”
Example:Air Sunshine, Inc., Case No. EAJA-190273, FAA Docket No. CP09SO0007, FDMS No. FAA-2009-0094, Administrative Law Judge’s Initial Decision Awarding Fees and Expenses Under the Equal Access to Justice Act (Served November 4, 2009) (Benkin, ALJ)
Tips for Searching for Hazardous Materials Cases

ALJ Decisions –Hazardous Materials Civil Penalty Cases

Agency:FAA, FHWA, FMCSA and/or PHMSA
Action Type:Nonrulemaking
Terms:“Hazardous Materials” “Hazardous Materials Regulation” “HMR” “CP”
[Substantive Regulations]“49 CFR” “Chapter 1” “ch. 1” “Subchapter C” “subch c” “Parts 171-80” Pts. 171-80” “Parts 171-179” “Pts 171-79” “171 et seq.”
[FAA Procedural Regulations]“14 CFR” “Part 13” “Pt. 13” “Subpart G”
[FMCSA Procedural Regulations]“49 CFR” “Part 386”
[PHMSA Procedural Regulations]“49 CFR” “Part 105” “Part 107” “Office of Hazardous Materials Enforcement” “OHME” “Notice of Probable Violation” “NOPV”
Example:Villamor Tabula, FAA Docket No. CP08WP0015, DMS No. FAA-2008-0883, Initial Decision of Administrative Law Judge Richard C. Goodwin (Served June 9, 2009)
Tips for Searching for Motor Carrier Civil Penalty Cases
ALJ Decisions –Motor Carrier Safety Civil Penalty Cases
Agency:FHWA (until 2000) and/or FMCSA (2000-present)
Action Type:Nonrulemaking
Terms:“Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations” “FMCSR” “Notice of Claim” “NOC” “Claimant” “Field Administrator” “Respondent” “49 CFR” “Chapter III” “ch. III” “Subchapter B” “subch B” “Parts 350-99” “Pts. 350-99” “350 et seq.”
Example:Transland, Inc., Docket No. FMCSA-2006-25348, Decision of Chief Administrative Law Judge Ronnie A. Yoder (Served February 16, 2010)
Tips for Searching for Airport-Airline Fees Cases
ALJ Decisions –Airport-Airline Fees Cases
Agency:DOT
Action Type:Nonrulemaking
Terms:“Office of the Secretary of Transportation” “OST” “Complaint” “Complainant” “49 USC § 47129” “14 CFR” “Part 302” “Subpart E” “Subpt. E”
Examples:Alaska Airlines, Inc. v. Los Angeles World Airports, Docket No. OST-2007-27331, Recommended Decision of U.S. Administrative Law Judge Richard C. Goodwin (Served May 15, 2007)
Brendan Airways, LLC v. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Docket No. OST-2005-20407, Recommended Decision of Administrative Law Judge Richard C. Goodwin (Served May 9, 2005)
Miami International Airport, Docket No. OST-1996-1965, Recommended Decision of Administrative Law Judge Ronnie A. Yoder (Served February 17, 1997)
Tips for Searching for Airline Fitness/Citizenship Cases
ALJ Decisions –Airline Fitness/Citizenship Cases
Agency:DOT
Action Type:Nonrulemaking
Terms:“Office of the Secretary of Transportation” “OST” “49 USC § 40102” “§ 40102” “Chapters 411, 413” “Ch. 411, 413” “14 CFR” “Part 302” “Pt. 302” “Subpart A”
Example:DHL Airways, Inc. (ASTAR), Docket No. OST-2002-13089, Recommended Decision of Administrative Law Judge (Served December 19, 2003) (Kolko, ALJ)
Last updated: Monday, March 16, 2015