Opinion ID: 465003
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: refusal to find good cause

Text: 20 We review de novo the question whether the Board's decision was arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or not in accordance with law. 5 U.S.C. Sec. 706(2)(A); Phoenix Baptist Hospital & Medical Center, Inc. v. Heckler, 767 F.2d 1304, 1307 (9th Cir.1985). We find the Board did not abuse its discretion. It considered Western's request for an extension and concluded that the reasons advanced by Western did not constitute good cause. That determination was reasonable and should be upheld. 21 The facts are not in dispute. Western missed the 180 day deadline by some sixty days. Its excuses for the two-month delay were personnel changes and a mistaken belief that an ongoing investigation of reimbursements relieved it of the necessity to file a timely appeal. It was not arbitrary for the Board to conclude that the explanations do not demonstrate good cause. 22 The Board could rationally have concluded that, even with major personnel changes, Western had no good cause for an eight month delay. New employees had several months to become familiar with administrative regulations; personnel changes are not that unusual that they necessarily constitute an excuse for failure to comply with agency requirements. 23 The Board, also, could rationally have concluded that Western's belief that timely appeal was unnecessary because of the ongoing investigations was not reasonable and did not show good cause. The investigations were not concerned with the 1979 cost reporting year, which is at issue in this appeal. There was no allegation that Western received any communication from its intermediary or from the Secretary that indicated that these investigations had any effect on statutory time limits for an appeal to the Board, nor was there any allegation that Western ever inquired as to whether this was so. 24 The Board's determination was not arbitrary, capricious or an abuse of discretion. A general allegation that agency action was arbitrary, capricious or contrary to law adds nothing to a complaint. Ness Investment Corp. v. United States Department of Agriculture, 512 F.2d 706 (9th Cir.1975). The record reveals that the Board did consider Western's reasons for its late filing and concluded that they did not constitute good cause. The Board has employed its expertise and judgment in a way that the law has contemplated. Id., cited in Johnson Oyster Co. v. Baldridge, 704 F.2d 1060, 1063 (9th Cir.1983).