Court Opinion

ID: 9394659
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-05-16 06:00:11.438062+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:19:01.538404
License: Public Domain

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
                        MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION BOARD

     KENNETH SHAW,                                   DOCKET NUMBER
                 Appellant,                          NY-0752-22-0018-I-1

                  v.

     DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS                          DATE: May 15, 2023
       AFFAIRS,
                 Agency.

             THIS FINAL ORDER IS NONPRECEDENTIAL 1

           Kenneth Shaw, Brooklyn, New York, pro se.

           Kaitlin Fitzgibbon, Esquire, Buffalo, New York, for the agency.

                                           BEFORE

                               Cathy A. Harris, Vice Chairman
                                Raymond A. Limon, Member

                                       FINAL ORDER

¶1         The appellant has filed a petition for review of the initial decision, which
     affirmed his removal from Federal service. On petition for review, the appellant
     argues, among other things, that the administrative judge was biased, did not
     conduct discovery, and improperly denied his witness req uest.            Petition for

     1
        A nonprecedential order is one that the Board has determined does not add
     significantly to the body of MSPB case law. Parties may cite nonprecedential orders,
     but such orders have no precedential value; the Board and administrative judges are not
     required to follow or distinguish them in any future decisions. In contrast, a
     precedential decision issued as an Opinion and Order has been identified by the Board
     as significantly contributing to the Board’s case law. See 5 C.F.R. § 1201.117(c).
                                                                                          2

     Review (PFR) File, Tab 1 at 1-3.            He also appears to argue that he was
     discriminated against based on his religion and that he was retaliated against for
     engaging in whistleblowing activity. Id. at 1-2. Generally, we grant petitions
     such as this one only in the following circumstances: the initial decision contains
     erroneous findings of material fact; the initial decision is based on an erroneous
     interpretation of statute or regulation or the erroneous a pplication of the law to
     the facts of the case; the administrative judge’s rulings during either the course of
     the appeal or the initial decision were not consistent with required procedures or
     involved an abuse of discretion, and the resulting error affec ted the outcome of
     the case; or new and material evidence or legal argument is available that, despite
     the petitioner’s due diligence, was not available when the record closed. Title 5
     of the Code of Federal Regulations, section 1201.115 ( 5 C.F.R. § 1201.115).
     After fully considering the filings in this appeal, we conclude that the petitioner
     has not established any basis under section 1201.115 for granting the petition for
     review. Therefore, we DENY the petition for review and AFFIRM the initial
     decision, which is now the Board’s final decision. 5 C.F.R. § 1201.113(b).
¶2           The administrative judge correctly found that the agency proved its charges
     of absence without leave and failure to follow leave procedures by preponderant
     evidence. Initial Appeal File (IAF), Tab 19, Initial Decision (ID) at 7 -11. She
     also appropriately found that there is a nexus between the cha rged misconduct
     and the efficiency of the service.       ID at 11-12.    Based on our review of the
     deciding official’s testimony, her decision notice, and the Douglas 2 factors
     worksheet contained in the record, we find that the deciding official properly
     considered the relevant Douglas factors, and we agree with the administrative
     judge that the penalty of removal was reasonable. ID at 16-19; IAF, Tab 5 at 19,
     31-32;     IAF,    Tab   18,   Hearing    Recording     (testimony   of   the   Center
     Director/deciding official). We also agree with the administrative judge that the

     2
         Douglas v. Veterans Administration, 5 M.S.P.R. 280, 305-06 (1981).
                                                                                          3

     appellant failed to prove his affirmative defenses of reprisal for engaging in prior
     equal employment opportunity (EEO) activity 3 and disparate treatment.              ID
     at 12-16. 4

     The appellant failed to establish that the administrative judge acted improperly in
     the adjudication of this appeal.
¶3         As briefly set forth above, the appellant argues on review that the
     administrative judge was biased, failed to engage in discovery, and improperly
     denied his witness request. PFR File, Tab 1 at 1-3. Regarding the appellant’s
     claim of bias, the Board has explained that, in making such a claim, the party
     must show that the bias constitutes extra judicial conduct, rather than conduct
     arising in the administrative proceedings before her, to overcome the presumption
     of honesty and integrity that accompanies administrative adjudicators.           Tyler
     v. U.S. Postal Service, 90 M.S.P.R. 545 (2022). Here, the appellant asserts that
     the administrative judge “was doing the [agency’s] bidding” and denied him due
     process. PFR File, Tab 1 at 1. He has not, however, provided any examples of

     3
       Regarding the appellant’s EEO reprisal claim, the administrative judge found that the
     appellant’s prior EEO activity was not a motivating factor in his removal. ID at 15.
     Because we affirm the administrative judge’s finding that the appellant failed to show
     that any prohibited consideration was a motivating factor in the agency’s action, we
     need not resolve the issue of whether the appellant proved that discrimination or
     retaliation was a “but-for” cause of the agency’s decisions. See Pridgen v. Office of
     Management and Budget, 2022 MSPB 31, ¶¶ 20-22, 29-33.
     4
       As briefly noted above, the appellant appears to argue on review that his removal was
     also the result of discrimination based on his religion and was taken in reprisal for
     engaging in whistleblowing activity. PFR File, Tab 1 at 1 -2. The appellant did not
     raise either of these claims below. IAF, Tabs 1, 6, 14. Generally, the Board will not
     consider an argument raised for the first time on review absent a showing that it is
     based on new and material evidence that was not previously available despite the
     party’s due diligence. See Clay v. Department of the Army, 123 M.S.P.R. 245, ¶ 6
     (2016). To the extent the appellant is making these arguments on review, he has not
     explained why he was unable to raise them below, nor has he asserted that they are
     based on new and material evidence that was not previously available to him.
     Accordingly, we have not considered these claims. If the appellant believes that his
     removal was taken in reprisal for engaging in whistleblowing activity, he may consider
     filing a complaint with the Office of Special Counsel.
                                                                                         4

     conduct on the part of the administrative judge that was inappropriate, much less
     extra judicial. Id. As such, the appellant’s claim of bias is unsupported and,
     thus, without merit.
¶4         Regarding the appellant’s claim that the administrative judge failed to
     conduct discovery, it is the primary responsibility of the parties to engage in
     discovery if so sought. See 5 C.F.R. § 1201.71 (explaining that the “[p]arties are
     expected to start and complete discovery with a minimum of Board intervention”
     and that “[d]iscovery requests and responses thereto are not to be filed in the first
     instance with the Board”).    We discern no error in the administrative judge’s
     handling of discovery. Notably, in an acknowledgment order, the administrative
     judge explained the discovery process to the parties and set forth how the parties
     should go about engaging in discovery.       IAF, Tab 2 at 3.     Additionally, she
     explained that she would address any problems dealing with discovery in a
     scheduled status conference. IAF, Tab 7 at 1-2. There is no evidence in the
     record below that the appellant did not receive the administrative judge’s
     instructions regarding discovery, nor is there any evidence that the parties
     encountered a discovery dispute that required intervention from the Board.
     Accordingly, the appellant has failed to show that the administrative judge abused
     her discretion regarding the discovery process.
¶5         As noted, the appellant also asserts that the administrative judge improperly
     denied his “one and only witness” request.        PFR File, Tab 1 at 3.       In his
     prehearing submission, the appellant requested his cousin as a witness and
     explained that the cousin had helped him apply for a transfer to a different
     facility.   IAF, Tab 14 at 9.      In an order and summary of the prehearing
     conference, the administrative judge denied the witness request on relevance
     grounds. IAF, Tab 16 at 2. The appellant has not explained on review why this
     conclusion was in error, nor has he offered any specific information to which the
     witness would have testified that he believes to be relevant. PFR File, Tab 1.
     Therefore, we discern no error in the administrative judge’s denial of this
                                                                                           5

     witness. See 5 C.F.R. § 1201.41(b)(8) (setting forth the administrative judge’s
     authority and discretion to rule on witnesses).

     The documents submitted for the first time on review do not provide a basis to
     disturb the initial decision.
¶6         The appellant submits with his petition for review numerous documents,
     including, but not limited to, pleadings and submissions filed below, incomplete
     excerpts of transcripts, questionnaires, and court filings, a 2010 settlement
     agreement, and medical documentation discouraging the appellant from using
     public transportation. PFR File, Tab 1 at 6-135. Several of these documents are
     already included in the record below.         To the extent any of the documents
     submitted on review are new, the Board will generally not consider evide nce
     submitted for the first time on review absent a showing that it was unavailable
     before the close of the record below despite the party’s due diligence.             See
     Pirkkala v. Department of Justice, 123 M.S.P.R. 288, ¶ 5 (2016). Based on our
     review of the documents, none postdate the close of the record below, and the
     appellant has not explained why he was unable to submit them then. PFR File,
     Tab 1.    Moreover, the appellant has not shown that any of the documents
     submitted with his petition for review are of sufficient weight to warrant an
     outcome different from that of the initial decision.          See Russo v. Veterans
     Administration, 3 M.S.P.R. 345, 249 (1980).              Accordingly, we have not
     considered them.
¶7         Based on the foregoing, we affirm the initial decision.

                              NOTICE OF APPEAL RIGHTS 5
           You may obtain review of this final decision. 5 U.S.C. § 7703(a)(1). By
     statute, the nature of your claims determines the time limit for seeking such
     review and the appropriate forum with which to file.             5 U.S.C. § 7703(b).
     5
       Since the issuance of the initial decision in this matter, the Board may have updated
     the notice of review rights included in final decisions. As indicated in the notice, the
     Board cannot advise which option is most appropriate in any matter.
                                                                                        6

Although we offer the following summary of available appeal rights, the Merit
Systems Protection Board does not provide legal advice on which option is most
appropriate for your situation and the rights described below do not represent a
statement of how courts will rule regarding which cases fall within their
jurisdiction.   If you wish to seek review of this final decision, you should
immediately review the law applicable to your claims and carefully follow all
filing time limits and requirements. Failure to file within the applicable time
limit may result in the dismissal of your case by your chosen forum.
      Please read carefully each of the three main possible choice s of review
below to decide which one applies to your particular case. If you have questions
about whether a particular forum is the appropriate one to review your case, you
should contact that forum for more information.

      (1) Judicial review in general. As a general rule, an appellant seeking
judicial review of a final Board order must file a petition for review with the U.S.
Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which must be received by the court
within 60 calendar days of the date of issuance of this decision.               5 U.S.C.
§ 7703(b)(1)(A).
      If you submit a petition for review to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the
Federal   Circuit,   you   must   submit   your   petition   to   the   court    at   the
following address:
                              U.S. Court of Appeals
                              for the Federal Circuit
                             717 Madison Place, N.W.
                             Washington, D.C. 20439

      Additional information about the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal
Circuit is available at the court’s website, www.cafc.uscourts.gov. Of partic ular
relevance is the court’s “Guide for Pro Se Petitioners and Appellants,” which is
contained within the court’s Rules of Practice, and Forms 5, 6, 10, and 11.
                                                                                    7

      If you are interested in securing pro bono representation for an appeal to
the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, you may visit our website at
http://www.mspb.gov/probono for information regarding pro bono representation
for Merit Systems Protection Board appellants before the Federal Circuit. The
Board neither endorses the services provided by any attorney nor warrants that
any attorney will accept representation in a given case.

      (2) Judicial   or   EEOC     review   of   cases     involving   a   claim   of
discrimination. This option applies to you only if you have claimed that you
were affected by an action that is appealable to the Board and that such action
was based, in whole or in part, on unlawful discrimination. If so, you may obtain
judicial review of this decision—including a disposition of your discrimination
claims—by filing a civil action with an appropriate U.S. district court (not the
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit), within 30 calendar days after you
receive this decision.     5 U.S.C. § 7703(b)(2); see Perry v. Merit Systems
Protection Board, 582 U.S. 420 (2017). If you have a representative in this case,
and your representative receives this decision before you do, then you must file
with the district court no later than 30 calendar days after your representative
receives this decision. If the action involves a claim of discrimination based on
race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or a disabling condition, you may be
entitled to representation by a court-appointed lawyer and to waiver of any
requirement of prepayment of fees, costs, or other security.           See 42 U.S.C.
§ 2000e-5(f) and 29 U.S.C. § 794a.
      Contact information for U.S. district courts can be found at their respective
websites, which can be accessed through the link below:
      http://www.uscourts.gov/Court_Locator/CourtWebsites.aspx.
      Alternatively, you may request review by the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission (EEOC) of your discrimination claims only, excluding
all other issues. 5 U.S.C. § 7702(b)(1). You must file any such request with the
                                                                                  8

EEOC’s Office of Federal Operations within 30 calendar days after you receive
this decision. 5 U.S.C. § 7702(b)(1). If you have a representative in this case,
and your representative receives this decision before you do, then you must file
with the EEOC no later than 30 calendar days after your representative receives
this decision.
      If you submit a request for review to the EEOC by regular U.S. mail, the
address of the EEOC is:
                            Office of Federal Operations
                     Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
                                  P.O. Box 77960
                             Washington, D.C. 20013

      If you submit a request for review to the EEOC via commercial delivery or
by a method requiring a signature, it must be addressed to:
                            Office of Federal Operations
                     Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
                                 131 M Street, N.E.
                                   Suite 5SW12G
                             Washington, D.C. 20507

      (3) Judicial     review   pursuant   to   the   Whistleblower     Protection
Enhancement Act of 2012. This option applies to you only if you have raised
claims of reprisal for whistleblowing disclosures under 5 U.S.C. § 2302(b)(8) or
other protected activities listed in 5 U.S.C. § 2302(b)(9)(A)(i), (B), (C), or (D).
If so, and your judicial petition for review “raises no challenge to the Board’s
disposition of allegations of a prohibited personnel practice described in section
2302(b) other than practices described in section 2302(b)(8), or 2302(b)(9)(A)(i),
(B), (C), or (D),” then you may file a petition for judicial review either with the
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit or any court of appeals of
competent jurisdiction. 6   The court of appeals must receive your petition for

6
  The original statutory provision that provided for judicial review of certain
whistleblower claims by any court of appeals of competent jurisdiction expired on
December 27, 2017. The All Circuit Review Act, signed into law by the President on
                                                                                      9

review within 60 days of the date of issuance of this decision.               5 U.S.C.
§ 7703(b)(1)(B).
      If you submit a petition for judicial review to the U.S. Court of Appeals for
the Federal Circuit, you must submit your petition to the court at the
following address:
                               U.S. Court of Appeals
                               for the Federal Circuit
                              717 Madison Place, N.W.
                              Washington, D.C. 20439

      Additional information about the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal
Circuit is available at the court’s website, www.cafc.uscourts.gov. Of particular
relevance is the court’s “Guide for Pro Se Petitioners and Appellants,” which is
contained within the court’s Rules of Practice, and Forms 5, 6, 10, and 11.
      If you are interested in securing pro bono representation for an appeal to
the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, you may visit our website at
http://www.mspb.gov/probono for information regarding pro bono representation
for Merit Systems Protection Board appellants bef ore the Federal Circuit. The
Board neither endorses the services provided by any attorney nor warrants that
any attorney will accept representation in a given case.

July 7, 2018, permanently allows appellants to file petitions for judicial review of
MSPB decisions in certain whistleblower reprisal cases with the U.S. Court of Appeals
for the Federal Circuit or any other circuit court of appeals of competent jurisdiction.
The All Circuit Review Act is retroactive to November 26, 2017. Pub. L. No. 115-195,
132 Stat. 1510.
                                                                       10

      Contact information for the courts of appeals can be found at their
respective websites, which can be accessed through the link below:
      http://www.uscourts.gov/Court_Locator/CourtWebsites.aspx.

FOR THE BOARD:                          /s/ for
                                        Jennifer Everling
                                        Acting Clerk of the Board
Washington, D.C.