Barnhart v. Peabody Coal Co., 537 U.S. 149 (2003), was a Supreme Court of the United States case.

The assignment to an operator, like Peabody Coal, binds the operator to pay an annual premium to the United Mine Workers of America Combined Benefit Fund, which administers the benefits.

The question before the court was whether or not eligible retirees could be assigned to an operator after the October 1st date specified in the Act.

The mining companies argued the date in the Act limited the commissioner's ability to assign eligible retirees to an operator.

The commissioner argued the Act had been set to spur timely completion and that assignments could be made after that date.