Opinion ID: 78356
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The FAA's Prima Facie Case

Text: Swaters first suggests that the Board erred in concluding that the FAA succeeded in making a prima facie showing that his urine sample tested positive for prohibited drugs. There is no dispute that the sample in question contained prohibited drugs. Rather, Swaters's claim is that the sample was not his. In particular, he contends that the collection and handling of his sample was somehow flawed. On this record, however, we can find nothing arbitrary and capricious in the Board's determination that the FAA had established a prima facie case. First, Arthur Stachurski's testimony clearly supports the Board's determination that proper safeguards and procedures were followed during the collection of Swaters's sample. As we've noted, Stachurski recounted the steps he regularly takes in order to ensure the integrity of the samples he collects, and the record convincingly shows that these steps were observed in collecting Swaters's sample. Moreover, Swaters himself initialed the sealed bottles and signed a certification expressly stating that the samples were sealed in his presence. Swaters testified unequivocally that he understood that in initialing the seals, he was certif[ying] that it's my urine and that it has been sealed. R. at 439. Dr. Brunelli, Quest Diagnostic's Laboratory Director, also testified that when Quest received the specimen bottles from Concentra, they showed no sign of any tampering. We are hard-pressed to see how Swaters's sample could have become corrupted while in Concentra's or Stachurski's custody. Likewise, there is substantial evidence to show that the integrity of Swaters's sample was maintained after it was sent to Quest for analysis. [7] Dr. Brunelli gave a detailed explanation of the procedures Quest uses to track samples after they are received: the sealed bag is opened and the bottles containing the samples are checked for signs of tampering; the specimen identification numbers on the seals are checked against the identification numbers on the custody form included with the samples; the sample is then assigned an internal tracking number, which is affixed to the custody form and to the specimen bottles; that number is then used to track the handling of the sample throughout the rest of the testing process. At the hearing, Dr. Brunelli reviewed the documents used to track Swaters's sample and verified that each of these steps was followed. R. at 337-39. He also testified that he observed nothing inappropriate or out of the ordinary in the testing of the sample, and that he had no doubt as to the accuracy of the testing of the sample. R. at 336. In addition to evidence demonstrating the soundness of the chain of custody, the ALJ's determination regarding Swaters's lack of credibility represents a second, independent source of support for the Board's conclusion. Importantly, the ALJ did not simply believe Stachurski's testimony over Swaters's; rather, the judge made an explicit finding that Swaters was not a credible witness. That determination itself can be regarded as substantive evidence in favor of the ALJ's ultimate conclusion. Cf. United States v. Woodard, 459 F.3d 1078, 1087 (11th Cir.2006) ([A] defendant's testimony  if disbelieved by the jury  may be considered substantive evidence of guilt.); United States v. Brown, 53 F.3d 312, 314 (11th Cir.1995) (same). In short, on this record, we cannot say that it was arbitrary and capricious for the Board to conclude that the FAA made a prima facie showing that Swaters's urine sample had tested positive for prohibited substances.