Employees' Compensation Appeals Board

The Employees' Compensation Appeals Board (ECAB) was created in 1946 by statute to hear appeals taken from determinations and awards under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act with respect to claims of federal employees injured in the course of their employment. The Board has final authority to determine the liability of the Federal government with respect to the disability or death of employees injured in the scope of their employment. There is no further administrative or judicial appeal of ECAB decisions. The Board, by statute, consists of three Members appointed by the United States Secretary of Labor, one of whom is designated as Chairman of the Board and administrative manager. The current Chairman is Judge Christopher James Godfrey. He was appointed by Thomas E. Perez, Secretary of Labor on July 28, 2014. Patricia Howard Fitzgerald is a Judge and Vice Chair and Colleen D. Kiko is a Judge. Alternate members are Judge Alec J. Koromilas and Judge Valerie Evans-Harrell.