20 CFR § 725.360 - Parties to proceedings.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t20/s725.360"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "20 CFR § 725.360 - Parties to proceedings."
title_number: 20
title_name: "Employees' Benefits"
section_number: "725.360"
section_name: "Parties to proceedings."
chapter_name: "OFFICE OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR"
subchapter_number: "B"
subchapter_name: "FEDERAL COAL MINE HEALTH AND SAFETY ACT OF 1969, AS AMENDED"
part_number: "725"
part_name: "CLAIMS FOR BENEFITS UNDER PART C OF TITLE IV OF THE FEDERAL MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH ACT, AS AMENDED"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "5 U.S.C. 301; 28 U.S.C. 2461 note (Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990); Pub. L. 114-74 at sec. 701; Reorganization Plan No. 6 of 1950, 15 FR 3174; 30 U.S.C. 901  902(f), 921, 932, 936; 33 U.S.C. 901  42 U.S.C. 405; Secretary's Order 10-2009, 74 FR 58834."
regulatory_source: "65 FR 80054, Dec. 20, 2000, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "725"
---


# 725.360 Parties to proceedings.

(a) Except as provided in § 725.361, no person other than the Secretary of Labor and authorized personnel of the Department of Labor shall participate at any stage in the adjudication of a claim for benefits under this part, unless such person is determined by the appropriate adjudication officer to qualify under the provisions of this section as a party to the claim. The following persons shall be parties:

(1) The claimant;

(2) A person other than a claimant, authorized to execute a claim on such claimant's behalf under § 725.301;

(3) Any coal mine operator notified under § 725.407 of its possible liability for the claim;

(4) Any insurance carrier of such operator; and

(5) The Director in all proceedings relating to a claim for benefits under this part.

(b) A widow, child, parent, brother, or sister, or the representative of a decedent's estate, who makes a showing in writing that his or her rights with respect to benefits may be prejudiced by a decision of an adjudication officer, may be made a party.

(c) Any coal mine operator or prior operator or insurance carrier which has not been notified under § 725.407 and which makes a showing in writing that its rights may be prejudiced by a decision of an adjudication officer may be made a party.

(d) Any other individual may be made a party if that individual's rights with respect to benefits may be prejudiced by a decision to be made.