Court Opinion

ID: 210760
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2011-03-13 08:16:08+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:28:02.857042
License: Public Domain

NOTE: This disposition is nonprecedential.

 United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

                                      2006-3407

                                 MICHAEL J. WILEY,

                                                            Petitioner,

                                          v.

                        UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE,

                                                            Respondent.

      Michael J. Wiley, of Humble, Texas, pro se.

       Meredyth D. Cohen, Trial Attorney, Commercial Litigation Branch, Civil Division,
United States Department of Justice, of Washington, DC, for respondent. With her on
the brief were Peter D. Keisler, Assistant Attorney General, David M. Cohen, Director,
and Bryant G. Snee, Assistant Director

Appealed from: United States Merit Systems Protection Board
                     NOTE: This disposition is nonprecedential.

     United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

                                     2006-3407

                                MICHAEL J. WILEY,

                                                             Petitioner,

                                          v.

                       UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE,

                                                             Respondent.

                         __________________________

                         DECIDED: March 7, 2007
                         __________________________

Before MAYER, GAJARSA and PROST, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM.

      Michael J. Wiley appeals the final decision of the Merit Systems Protection

Board, which sustained his removal. Wiley v. U.S. Postal Serv., 102 M.S.P.R. 535

(2006). We affirm.

      We must affirm the board’s decision unless it was arbitrary, capricious, an abuse

of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with law; obtained without required

procedures; or not supported by substantial evidence.     5 U.S.C. § 7703(c) (2000).

Here, Wiley was charged with “Improper Conduct/Violation of the Joint Zero Tolerance
Policy on Violence in the Work Place.” This policy prohibits any “actual, implied or

veiled threat, made seriously or in jest.” Substantial evidence supports the board’s

finding that Wiley made a threat, and the board applied the proper legal analysis in

making its determination. In addition, the board was well within its authority to consider

the alleged legal error made by the administrative judge in his initial decision. Finally,

the board properly determined that the penalty of removal was not unreasonable.

2006-3407                                   2