Court Opinion

ID: 9397744
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-05-26 06:00:13.64434+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:19:27.298633
License: Public Domain

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
                        MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION BOARD

     JEFFREY L. ROGERS,                              DOCKET NUMBER
                   Appellant,                        AT-0752-16-0742-X-1

                  v.

     DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY,                         DATE: May 25, 2023
                 Agency.

             THIS FINAL ORDER IS NONPRECEDENTIAL 1

           Archibald J. Thomas, III, Esquire, Jacksonville, Florida, for the appellant.

           Mark E. Gleason, Esquire, Kings Bay, Georgia, for the agency.

                                           BEFORE

                               Cathy A. Harris, Vice Chairman
                                Raymond A. Limon, Member
                                Tristan L. Leavitt, Member 2

                                       FINAL ORDER

¶1         On April 13, 2018, the administrative judge issued a compliance initial
     decision granting the appellant’s petition for enforcement and finding the agency
     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        A nonprecedential order is one that the Board has determined does not add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 Parties may cite nonprecedential orders,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
       Member Leavitt’s name is included in decisions on which the three -member Board
     completed the voting process prior to his March 1, 2023 departure.
                                                                                        2

     in partial noncompliance with the March 1, 2017 initial decision, which mitigated
     the appellant’s removal to a letter of reprimand and ordered him reinstated with
     back pay and benefits. Rogers v. Department of the Navy, MSPB Docket No. AT-
     0752-16-0742-C-1, Compliance File (CF), Tab 28, Compliance Initial Decision
     (CID); Rogers v. Department of the Navy, MSPB Docket No. AT-0752-16-0742-I-
     1, Initial Appeal File (IAF), Tab 19, Initial Decision (ID).       For the reasons
     discussed below, we now find the agency in compliance and DISMISS the
     petition for enforcement.

                                      BACKGROUND
¶2        Effective July 8, 2016, the agency removed the appellant from his position
     as an Optical Instrument Repairer for conduct unbecoming a Federal employee.
     IAF, Tab 1 at 24-33, Tab 3 at 35. The appellant timely appealed his removal to
     the Board. IAF, Tab 1. In the March 1, 2017 initial decision, the administrative
     judge mitigated the appellant’s removal to a letter of reprimand and ordered the
     agency to cancel the removal, substitute in its place a letter of reprimand, and
     provide the appellant with appropriate back pay, interest, and benefits. ID at 18.
     Neither party filed a petition for review, and the initial decision became the final
     decision of the Board on April 5, 2017. ID at 21; see 5 C.F.R. § 1201.113.
¶3        On July 21, 2017, the appellant petitioned for enforcement of the initial
     decision.   CF, Tab 1.      He submitted evidence showing that the agency had
     cancelled his removal and reinstated him to his former position as of March 9,
     2017, and had placed in his Official Personnel File (OPF) a letter of reprimand
     for conduct unbecoming a Federal employee. Id. at 10-13. He also submitted
     evidence showing that, for the 18 pay periods of the back pay period—from the
     pay period ending on July 23, 2016, through the pay period ending on March 18,
     2017—the agency paid him regular pay back pay in the gross amount of
     $39,254.40 and overtime back pay for 19 to 19.5 hours of overtime per pay period
     in the gross amount of $14,332.03. Id. at 14. The appellant argued, however,
                                                                                      3

     that the letter of reprimand placed in his OPF contained allegations that were not
     proven at the hearing and that the agency had failed to pro vide him the
     appropriate amount of back pay, interest, and benefits. CF, Tab 1.
¶4        In the April 13, 2018 compliance initial decision, the administrative judge
     granted the appellant’s petition for enforcement, finding the agency in partial
     noncompliance with the Board’s order.      CID.    First, the administrative judge
     found that, in determining that the appellant was entitled to 19 or 19.5 hours of
     overtime back pay per pay period, the agency acted unreasonably by averaging
     the overtime of all employees of the same title and grade, regardless of their date
     of seniority, which determines the employee’s priority for the assignment of
     voluntary overtime. CID at 3-5. The administrative judge therefore ordered the
     agency to recalculate the overtime portion of the appellant’s back pay award
     using only comparators of similar seniority to the appellant and to provide the
     appellant a narrative explanation of its calculations, the documents on which it
     based its calculations, and evidence regarding the seniority dates and overtime
     hours of the employees it used as comparators. CID at 6, 8-9. Second, she found
     that the letter of reprimand exceeded the scope of the Board’s order and ordered
     the agency to rescind it and replace it with a corrected one retroactive to
     August 4, 2016. CID at 7-9. Neither party filed any submission with the Clerk of
     the Board within the applicable time limits, and the appellant’s petition for
     enforcement was referred to the Board for a final decision on issues of
     compliance pursuant to 5 C.F.R. § 1201.183(b)-(c). Rogers v. Department of the
     Navy, MSPB Docket No. AT-0752-16-0742-X-1, Compliance Referral File
     (CRF), Tab 1.
¶5        On May 31, 2018, the agency submitted to the Board its first notice of
     compliance. CRF, Tab 2. The agency stated that it had recalculated the amount
     of overtime pay due to the appellant by averaging the number of overtime hours
     worked by the two employees most similarly situated to the appellant in terms of
     years of service and provided evidence showing that those employees, whom it
                                                                                           4

     designated as Employee 1 and Employee 2, had 19 and 12 years of service,
     respectively, and that the appellant had 13 years of service.        Id. at 2, 4. The
     agency determined these comparators worked an average of 50 hours of overtime
     per pay period from July 9, 2016, through July 26, 2017. 3 Id. at 2. The agency
     stated that the Defense and Finance Accounting Service (DFAS) would issue
     payment to the appellant for 50 hours of overtime for each pay period minus the
     overtime hours already paid and all normal deductions. Id. The agency further
     indicated that it rescinded the letter of reprimand containing the unproven
     allegations and replaced it with a corrected letter retroactively dated to August 4,
     2016. Id. at 3. The agency provided a copy of the letter, which reflected that it
     would remain in the appellant’s OPF for 2 years from the date of the letter. Id.
     at 6-7.
¶6         In a June 20, 2018 response to the agency’s evidence of compliance, the
     appellant argued that the agency still had not paid him or provided him its back
     pay and benefit calculations. CRF, Tab 3 at 4-5. He also expressed concern that
     the agency had included in its overtime back pay calculation the number of
     overtime hours worked by the comparators outside of the back pay period without
     providing any evidence regarding the effect of the additional 9 pay periods on the
     average.   Id. at 5.   In addition, the appellant argued that the agency had not
     provided him the “Command Letter” and supporting documents identified in the
     “DFAS Checklist” at the end of the initial decision. Id. at 6; ID at 27.
¶7         On August 3, 2018, the agency submitted a second notice of compliance
     indicating that it had paid the appellant’s back pay award in full on June 29,

     3
       As noted above, the agency reinstated the appellant to his former position as of
     March 9, 2017. CF, Tab 1 at 10. However, the agency calculated the appellant’s
     additional back pay award by averaging the number of overtime hours worked by the
     two comparators through July 26, 2017. CRF, Tab 2 at 2, 5. The agency did not
     explain why it relied on overtime data from outside the back pay period to calculate the
     appellant’s overtime back pay award.
                                                                                           5

     2018, and had rescinded and redrafted the prior letter of reprimand. CRF, Tab 4
     at 4-5.   Regarding its overtime back pay calculations, the agency submitted a
     chart showing the number of overtime hours per pay period for which it had
     previously paid the appellant and, by subtracting that number from 50 hours, the
     number of additional hours of overtime for which he was owed payment for each
     pay period. Id. at 9. The chart reflects that, for the 27 pay periods from July 23,
     2016, through July 22, 2017, 4 he was entitled to retroactive earnings for a total of
     897.35 5 additional hours of overtime. Id. Notwithstanding its determination that
     the appellant was entitled to payment for 897.35 additional hours of overtime, the
     agency’s submissions reflect that it paid the appellant for 882.35 hours of
     overtime and 16 hours of regular pay. Id. at 41, 44-47.
¶8         In an August 23, 2018 response to the agency’s second notice of
     compliance, the appellant argued that the agency failed to explain how it
     calculated his Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) withholdings and contributions for the
     back pay period and that it appeared that those amounts were incorrect. CRF,
     Tab 5 at 4. He also requested that the agency certify that it had removed the
     letter of reprimand from his OPF because the 2-year period from August 4, 2016,
     had elapsed. Id. at 5.
¶9         In an August 7, 2019 submission, the agency asserted that it had reviewed
     the appellant’s TSP withholdings and contributions related to the back pay award

     4
       The agency did not explain why it paid the appellant additional overtime back pay for
     the 9 pay periods after his reinstatement. Compare CF, Tab 1 at 10, 14 with CRF,
     Tab 4 at 9.
     5
       As described in the Clerk of the Board’s January 23, 2020 order, there were several
     discrepancies in the agency’s representations regarding the total number of additional
     overtime hours to which the appellant was entitled, including references to 184 hours,
     882.35 hours, or 898.35 hours of overtime. CRF, Tabs 4, 8, 9. In response, the agency
     clarified that the appellant was entitled to 897.35 hours of additional overtime pay but
     that he received payment for 882.35 hours of overtime, which included an overpayment
     of 1 hour, and 16 hours of regular pay, for a total of 898.35 hours of additional
     retroactive earnings. CRF, Tab 13.
                                                                                        6

      and determined that they were correct. CRF, Tab 8 at 4. The agency explained
      that TSP withholdings and contributions are not authorized for overtime and that
      the appellant was therefore entitled only to TSP withholdings and contributions in
      connection with his retroactive earnings for 16 hours of regular pay. Id. at 4-5.
      Finally, the agency asserted that it had deleted the letter of reprimand from the
      appellant’s official personnel file and provided evidence reflecting the deletion.
      Id. at 5, 8-9.
¶10         In a January 23, 2020 order, the Clerk of the Board ordered the agency to
      clarify, among other things, why it paid the appellant for 16 hours of regular pay
      instead of overtime pay. CRF, Tab 9. In response, the agency stated that it paid
      the appellant 16 hours of regular pay, rather than overtime pay, for the pay period
      ending on June 10, 2017, because the appellant had not worked 40 hours per week
      during that pay period but had been absent without leave for 16 hours. CRF,
      Tab 13 at 5. The agency explained that the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
      requires nonexempt employees, such as the appellant, to work 40 hours of work
      per week before being paid overtime. Id. Accordingly, the agency explained
      that, instead of paying the appellant for an additional 50 hours of overtime for
      that pay period, it paid him for 16 regular hours and 34 overtime hours. Id.
¶11         On March 18, 2020, the appellant challenged the agency’s representation
      that the FLSA required payment of 16 hours of regular pay, arguing that it was
      contrary to the ordered relief compliance initial decision. CRF, Tab 14 at 4-5.
      He also reiterated his argument that the agency failed to provide him the
      documentation set forth in the initial decision’s DFAS Checklist. Id. at 5-6.

                                         ANALYSIS
¶12         When the Board reverses a personnel action, it orders that the appellant be
      placed, as nearly as possible, in the same situation he would have been in had the
      wrongful personnel action not occurred. Vaughan v. Department of Agriculture,
      116 M.S.P.R. 319, ¶ 5 (2011). The agency bears the burden to prove compliance
                                                                                         7

      with the Board’s order by a preponderance of the evidence. 6          Id.; 5 C.F.R.
      § 1201.183(d).    An agency’s assertions of compliance must include a clear
      explanation of its compliance actions supported by documentary evidence.
      Vaughan, 116 M.S.P.R. 319, ¶ 5. The appellant may rebut the agency’s evidence
      of compliance by making specific, nonconclusory, and supported assertions of
      continued noncompliance. Id.
¶13        In the compliance initial decision, the administrative judge found that the
      agency had to take the following actions to resolve the outstanding compliance
      issues: (1) recalculate the overtime portion of the appellant’s back pay award
      using only comparators of similar seniority as the appellant; (2) provide the
      appellant a narrative explanation of its calculations, the documents on which it
      based its calculations, and evidence regarding the seniority dates and overtime
      hours of the employees it used as comparators; and (3) rescind the March 29,
      2017 letter of reprimand and replace it with a corrected one retroactive t o
      August 4, 2016. CID at 6-9.
¶14        As described above, the agency determined that Employee 1 and
      Employee 2 were the most similarly situated in terms of service computation date
      to the appellant, who had 13 years of service, and submitted evidence showing
      that Employee 1 had 19 years of service and Employee 2 had 12 years of service.
      CRF, Tab 2 at 2, 4. The appellant has not challenged the agency’s selection of
      these two employees as the most similarly situated in terms of service
      computation dates, and we find that they are appropriate comparators for the
      purposes of calculating the appellant’s overtime back pay award .
¶15        The agency submitted evidence showing that from July 9, 2016, through
      July 26, 2017, Employee 1 worked 1,474 hours of overtime (an average of

      6
       A preponderance of the evidence is the degree of relevant evidence that a reasonable
      person, considering the record as a whole, would accept as sufficient to find that a
      contested fact is more likely to be true than untrue. 5 C.F.R. § 1201.4(q).
                                                                                       8

      54.5 hours of overtime per pay period), and Employee 2 worked 1,182 hours of
      overtime (an average of 43.8 hours per pay period). CRF, Tab 2 at 5. The agency
      therefore determined that the appellant was entitled to 50 hours of overtime back
      pay for each of the 27 pay periods covering that timeframe.         Id. at 2.   By
      subtracting the number of overtime hours for which it had already paid the
      appellant per pay period from 50 hours per pay period, the agency determined that
      the appellant was entitled to an additional 897.35 hours of overtime pay for the
      entire period from pay period ending on July 23, 2016 through pay period ending
      on July 22, 2017. CRF, Tab 2, Tab 4 at 9. As noted above, the agency did not
      explain why it relied on overtime data from outside of the back pay period to
      calculate the appellant’s overtime back pay award or why it paid him overtime
      back pay for the 9 pay periods after his reinstatement.
¶16        To the extent the agency relied on comparator overtime data from outside of
      the back pay period to calculate the appellant’s back pay award, we find that the
      agency erred. The agency should have calculated the overtime back pay owed to
      the appellant by averaging the number of overtime hours worked by the
      comparators for the relevant period, i.e., the back pay period from the appellant’s
      July 8, 2016 removal through his March 9, 2017 reinstatement. See Russo v. U.S.
      Postal Service, 107 M.S.P.R. 296, ¶ 11 (2007) (stating that one way to calculate
      overtime back pay is based on the average overtime hours worked by similarly
      situated employees during the relevant time period).       The agency’s error is
      compounded by the fact that it failed to provide any evidence or information
      reflecting the effect of the comparators’ overtime hours worked during the
      additional pay periods on the average. Nonetheless, given that the agency in fact
      paid the appellant overtime back pay up to 50 hours per pay period for the 9 pay
      periods after he had been returned to duty, amounting to over 300 additional
      hours of overtime pay, we find that the appellant received at least as much
      overtime back pay as he would have received had the agency properly calculated
      the average overtime hours worked by the comparators for the relevant period .
                                                                                        9

      CRF, Tab 4 at 45-46.      Accordingly, we find that the agency’s errors did not
      prejudice the appellant. In addition, the appellant expressly stated that he would
      accept the agency’s calculation of his overtime back pay if it paid him for
      50 hours of overtime per pay period of the back pay period. CRF, Tab 3 at 5. As
      the agency ultimately did so, in addition to paying him for 50 hours of overtime
      for 8 of the 9 following pay periods, we find that the appellant is satisfied.
¶17         Although the agency determined that the appellant was entitled to
      897.35 hours of additional overtime back pay, the record reflects that the agency
      actually paid him retroactive earnings for 882.35 overtime hours and 16 regular
      hours. CRF, Tab 4 at 41, Tab 13 at 5, 7. In response to the Board’s request to
      explain why the agency paid some of the additional overtime hours at a regular
      rate of pay, the agency explained that the FLSA precluded it from paying the
      appellant 50 hours of overtime for the pay period ending on June 10, 2017,
      because he had been recorded as AWOL for 16 hours during that pay period.
      CRF, Tab 13 at 5. In response and for the first time, the appellant challenged the
      agency’s decision to pay some of the 897.35 hours at a regular rate of pay,
      arguing that it was contrary to the compliance initial decision.        CRF, Ta b 14
      at 4-5. However, the agency had no obligation to pay the appellant any back pay
      for the pay periods after his March 9, 2017 reinstatement. As such, the agency’s
      decisions regarding its payment of retroactive earnings to the appellant for the
      9 pay periods following his reinstatement, including the payment of 16 hours at a
      regular rate of pay for the pay period ending on June 10, 2017, are beyond the
      scope of our review.
¶18         The appellant also challenged the agency’s TSP withholdings and
      contributions in connection with the overtime back pay award. As the agency
      correctly stated, however, TSP withholding and contribution percentages are
      calculated on the basis of the appellant’s “basic pay,” which does not include
      overtime pay. See 5 C.F.R. §§ 1600.19-.20, 1690.1 (providing that “basic pay”
      means “basic pay” as defined in 5 U.S.C. § 8331(3)). Accordingly, the agency
                                                                                       10

      properly did not deduct any TSP withholdings or make any agency TSP
      contributions in connection with the appellant’s overtime back pay award. CRF,
      Tab 4 at 40-41, Tab 8 at 4-5. To the extent the appellant challenges the TSP
      deduction and contributions in connection with the 16 hours of regular pay from
      pay period ending on June 10, 2017, we are without authority to review them
      because they pertain to retroactive earnings outside of the back pay period.
¶19        In light of the foregoing, we find that the agency has established
      compliance with its obligations to recalculate the overtime portion of the
      appellant’s back pay award using comparators of similar seniority as the appellant
      and to provide evidence and explanation supporting its calculations. Althou gh
      the agency erroneously relied on overtime data from outside the back pay period
      and paid the appellant overtime back pay for 9 pay periods after the end of the
      back pay period, we find that the appellant was not prejudiced by these errors and
      that they do not preclude a finding of compliance.       We further find that the
      agency complied with its obligation to rescind and redraft the letter of reprimand ,
      which has since been deleted from the appellant’s OPF. Finally, the appellant’s
      assertion that the agency has not provided him the documents from the DFAS
      Checklist   does   not   establish   noncompliance.      The    DFAS     Checklists
      accompanying Board decisions identify the information the civilian personnel
      offices must provide to the civilian payroll offices via command letter to process
      payments ordered by the Board and do not impose any obligation on the agency to
      provide any documents to the appellant. See, e.g., ID at 27.
¶20        We find that the agency is now in compliance and dismiss the petition for
      enforcement. This is the final decision of the Merit Systems Protection Board in
      this compliance proceeding. Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, section
      1201.183(c)(1) (5 C.F.R. § 1201.183(c)(1)).
                                                                                     11

                  NOTICE TO THE APPELLANT REGARDING
                        YOUR RIGHT TO REQUEST
                       ATTORNEY FEES AND COSTS
      You may be entitled to be paid by the agency for your reasonable attorney
fees and costs. To be paid, you must meet the requirements set out at Title 5 of
the United States Code (5 U.S.C.), sections 7701(g), 1221(g), or 1214(g). The
regulations may be found at 5 C.F.R. §§ 1201.201, 1201.202, and 1201.203. If
you believe you meet these requirements, you must file a motion for attorney fees
WITHIN 60 CALENDAR DAYS OF THE DATE OF THIS DECISION.                              You
must file your attorney fees motion with the office that issued the initial decision
on your appeal.

                         NOTICE OF APPEAL RIGHTS 7
      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).
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 ca refully 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 choices of review
below to decide which one applies to your particular case. If you have questions

7
  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.
                                                                                       12

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 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 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
                                                                                13

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
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
                                                                                     14

      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. 8   The court of appeals must receive your petition for
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:

8
   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
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.
                                                                              15

                             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 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.
      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.