Opinion ID: 802255
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Searcy v. MSPB

Text: In accordance with the AJ’s December 10, 2010, order, Searcy filed allegations on December 13, 2010 regarding his constructive termination claim. The USDA responded on December 29, 2010, disputing Searcy’s claims regarding separation from the USDA, and requesting that Searcy’s appeal be denied as untimely and as lacking jurisdiction. On March 17, 2011, the AJ ordered Searcy to file evidence showing that he had timely appealed or that he had good cause for a delay in filing. Searcy responded that he was not made aware of his appeal rights. Despite this contention, on March 20, 2011, the AJ dismissed Searcy’s constructive termination claim as untimely. The AJ concluded that Searcy had not exercised due diligence in discovering his appeal rights and filing his appeal, regardless of whether notice of appeal rights was required for his separation. Searcy petitioned the Board for review of the AJ’s dismissal on March 31, 2011. On November 10, 2011, the Board denied review of the AJ’s dismissal. The Board explained that, if notice of appeal rights was not required, Searcy had not explained when or how he learned of those rights, if he had exercised due diligence in discovering them, or that he had 7 SEARCY v. MSPB exercised due diligence on filing his appeal. The Board further explained that, if notice of appeal rights were required, Searcy did not show that he was diligent in filing after he learned he could do so. In particular, the Board referenced the delay between Searcy’s August 27, 1997 EEO counseling and his 2009 complaint as evidence of a lack of diligence and rejected Searcy’s request for tolling.