Opinion ID: 490093
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Judicial Review of PAB Decisions.

Text: 6 The PAB's enabling statute sets out a familiar standard of judicial review. Final decisions of the PAB may only be set aside by this court when they are: 7 (1) arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not consistent with law; 8 (2) not made consistent with required procedures; or 9 (3) unsupported by substantial evidence. 10 31 U.S.C. Sec. 755. Although the decision of the Presiding Member constitutes part of the record on appeal, it is the decision of the full board, when it reconsiders the Presiding Member's initial disposition, that is final and subject to judicial review. 4 C.F.R. Sec. 28.25(d). 11 While the scope of our review remains the same even when a board reverses its hearing officer, see Dunning v. NASA, 718 F.2d 1170, 1174 (D.C. Cir.1983), 12 the evidence supporting a conclusion may be less substantial when an impartial, experienced examiner who has observed the witnesses and lived with the case has drawn conclusions different from the Board's than when he has reached the same conclusion. 13 Universal Camera Corp. v. NLRB, 340 U.S. 474, 496, 71 S.Ct. 456, 469, 95 L.Ed. 456 (1951). Moreover, such reversals are normally scrutinized very carefully to ensure there is some reasoned explanation of the board's disagreement with the decision of the hearing officer. See, e.g., National Ass'n of Recycling Indus, Inc. v. FMC, 658 F.2d 816, 824-25 (D.C. Cir.1980); Greater Boston Television Corp. v. F.C.C., 444 F.2d 841, 853 (D.C. Cir.1970), cert. denied, 403 U.S. 923, 91 S.Ct. 2229, 29 L.Ed.2d 701 (1971). Thus, even if it were otherwise supported by substantial evidence, a board decision that simply ignored the rationale or findings of a hearing officer--especially those based on live testimony not available to the board on reconsideration--would be found to be arbitrary and capricious. National Ass'n of Recycling Indus., 658 F.2d at 825; see also Jackson v. Veterans Admin., 768 F.2d 1325, 1331 (Fed.Cir.1985); General Dynamics Corp. v. OSHRC, 599 F.2d 453, 463 (1st Cir.1979). Similarly, a board decision that applied the wrong standard of review to the decision of its hearing examiner would also be arbitrary and capricious and contrary to law. 14