Court Opinion

ID: 2918134
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-10 23:00:21.381829+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:38:24.893921
License: Public Domain

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
                        MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION BOARD

     JOHN R. FAIRWEATHER,                            DOCKET NUMBER
                   Appellant,                        SF-315H-15-0221-I-1

                  v.

     DEPARTMENT OF                                   DATE: September 10, 2015
       TRANSPORTATION,
                 Agency.

             THIS FINAL ORDER IS NONPRECEDENTIAL 1

           Renee Wilson, Moses Lake, Washington, for the appellant.

           Kyle Lomazow, Renton, Washington, for the agency.

                                           BEFORE

                              Susan Tsui Grundmann, Chairman
                                 Mark A. Robbins, Member

                                       FINAL ORDER

¶1         The appellant has filed a petition for review of the initial decision, which
     dismissed his termination appeal for lack of jurisdiction. Generally, we grant
     petitions such as this one only when:       the initial decision contains erroneous
     findings of material fact; the initial decision is based on an erroneous

     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        A nonprecedential order is one that the Board has determined does not add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 Parties may cite nonprecedential orders,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

     interpretation of statute or regulation or the erroneous application of the law to
     the facts of the case; the 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 affected 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. See 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, and based on the following
     points and authorities, 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).

                                      BACKGROUND
¶2        Effective January 13, 2014, the agency appointed the appellant, a 5-point
     preference eligible, to the temporary position of Air Traffic Control Specialist in
     the excepted service. Initial Appeal File (IAF), Tab 7 at 13. On March 6, 2014,
     the agency converted the appellant’s initial, temporary appointment to a
     permanent one. Id. at 14. Both appointments were subject to the completion of a
     1-year trial period beginning January 13, 2014. Id. at 13-14. On December 2,
     2014, prior to the completion of the 1-year trial period, the agency terminated the
     appellant for being absent without leave from his official duties. Id. at 17-18.
¶3        The appellant filed a timely appeal challenging his termination and
     requested a hearing. IAF, Tab 1. He disputed the merits of his termination and
     also alleged that the agency committed prohibited personnel practices and
     discriminated against him based on his marital status and race. Id. at 6. In an
     acknowledgment order, the administrative judge informed the appellant that the
     Board may not have jurisdiction over his appeal and apprised him of the
     requirements for meeting the definition of an “employee” for purposes of
                                                                                     3

     5 U.S.C. chapter 75 appeal rights. IAF, Tab 2 at 2-5. The agency moved to
     dismiss the appeal for lack of jurisdiction. IAF, Tabs 7, 9. In response, the
     appellant further disputed the merits of his termination and reasserted his claims
     of prohibited personnel practices and discrimination based on marital status and
     race. IAF, Tabs 8, 10.
¶4        Without holding the requested hearing, the administrative judge dismissed
     the appeal for lack of jurisdiction. IAF, Tab 13, Initial Decision (ID) at 1, 10.
     Because the administrative judge found that the appellant was a preference
     eligible in an excepted service position, the administrative judge determined that
     the dispositive issue was whether the appellant made a nonfrivolous allegation
     that he is an “employee” under 5 U.S.C. § 7511(a)(1)(B).        ID at 6-7.    The
     administrative judge found that the appellant did not satisfy 5 U.S.C.
     § 7511(a)(1)(B) because he failed to make a nonfrivolous allegation that, at the
     time of his termination, he had completed 1 year of current continuous service in
     the same or similar position. ID at 7. The administrative judge further found that
     the Board lacks the authority to review the appellant’s claims of marital status
     and race discrimination because 5 C.F.R. § 315.806 does not apply to individuals
     in the excepted service and a claim of prohibited personnel practices is not an
     independent source of jurisdiction. ID at 9. Finally, the administrative judge
     concluded that the limited appeal rights of individuals in the excepted service
     serving under a Veterans Recruitment Appointment (VRA) do not apply to the
     appellant because he never alleged that he served under a VRA and the evidence
     did not support such a proposition. ID at 9 n.6.
¶5        The appellant has filed a petition for review. Petition for Review (PFR)
     File, Tab 1. The agency has responded in opposition. PFR File, Tab 3.

                     DISCUSSION OF ARGUMENTS ON REVIEW
¶6        An individual’s right to appeal an adverse action to the Board, such as the
     appellant’s termination, depends on whether he is an “employee” as defined by
                                                                                       4

     5 U.S.C. § 7511(a)(1). Bell v. Department of Homeland Security, 95 M.S.P.R.
     580, ¶ 15 (2004). The definition of “employee” includes “a preference eligible in
     the excepted service who has completed 1 year of current continuous service in
     the same or similar positions—(i) in an Executive agency; or (ii) in the United
     States   Postal   Service   or   Postal   Regulatory   Commission.”        5 U.S.C.
     § 7511(a)(1)(B). Notably, for a preference eligible in the excepted service, the
     absence or completion of a probationary or trial period is not determinative of
     “employee” status. Maibaum v. Department of Veterans Affairs, 116 M.S.P.R.
     234, ¶ 9 (2011). Rather, the dispositive issue is whether the appellant satisfied
     the 1-year “current continuous service” requirement when he was separated. Id.
     The term “current continuous service” means a period of employment or service,
     either in the competitive or excepted service that immediately precedes an
     adverse action without a break in Federal civilian employment of a workday. Id.,
     ¶ 14; 5 C.F.R. § 752.402.
¶7        Here, the appellant does not dispute that he was a preference eligible in an
     excepted service appointment. See ID at 6. His Standard Form 50s clearly show
     that he was appointed to a position in the excepted service and that he was a
     preference eligible. IAF, Tab 7 at 13-14. Accordingly, he is an “employee” only
     if he meets the criteria under 5 U.S.C. § 7511(a)(1)(B). We find, because the
     appellant served less than 1 year of his Air Traffic Control Specialist position and
     failed to nonfrivolously allege that his initial appointment was preceded by
     employment without a break in Federal civilian employment of a workday, that he
     failed to nonfrivolously allege that he is an “employee” under 5 U.S.C.
     § 7511(a)(1)(B) with adverse action appeal rights. See Maibaum, 116 M.S.P.R.
     234, ¶ 14 (finding that, although a single break in service of less than 30 days is
     permissible when tacking on prior service to complete a probationary or trial
     period, such 30-day rule is inapplicable in determining whether prior service may
     be counted toward the “current continuous service” requirement under 5 U.S.C.
     § 7511(a)(1)).
                                                                                             5

¶8           In his petition for review, the appellant alleges that the agency
     discriminated against him as a “VRA medically retired veteran.” PFR File, Tab 1
     at 3.      Excepted service employees lack the regulatory grounds for appeal of
     probationary terminations, such as discrimination on the bases of marital status
     and race, that are available to competitive service employees under 5 C.F.R.
     § 315.806(b) and (d). Barrand v. Department of Veterans Affairs, 112 M.S.P.R.
     210, ¶ 13 (2009) (holding that 5 C.F.R. § 315.806 applies only to individuals in
     the competitive service).     However, individuals serving in a VRA have been
     granted the same appeal rights during the first year of their trial periods as
     competitive service employees. See Maibaum, 116 M.S.P.R. 234, ¶ 18; 5 C.F.R.
     § 307.105. For the reasons cited in the initial decision and based on the record
     evidence, we find that the appellant has failed to nonfrivolously allege that he
     was appointed under VRA authority and therefore entitled to a regulatory right to
     appeal.     ID at 9 n.6; IAF, Tab 7 at 13-14.        Additionally, we agree with the
     administrative judge that the appellant’s claim of prohibited personnel practices
     based on discrimination is not an independent source of jurisdiction. See Wren v.
     Department of the Army, 2 M.S.P.R. 1, 2 (1980), aff’d, 681 F.2d 867 (D.C. Cir.
     1982). 2
¶9           The appellant further asserts that the administrative judge was biased. PFR
     File, Tab 1 at 3. He alleges as evidence of the administrative judge’s bias that the
     administrative judge improperly extended the close of record deadline on the
     jurisdictional issue to “January 26, 2105 [sic].” Id.; see IAF, Tab 6 at 2. We find
     that this minor typographical error does not provide a reason to disturb the initial

     2
       To the extent that the appellant is raising new claims of discrimination based on
     disability or veteran status, we decline to address such claims further because he has not
     shown that they are based on new and material evidence that was unavailable despite
     his due diligence when the record closed. See Banks v. Department of the Air Force,
     4 M.S.P.R. 268, 271 (1980); 5 C.F.R. § 1201.115(d).
                                                                                                6

      decision or indicate bias. 3 See Karapinka v. Department of Energy, 6 M.S.P.R.
      124, 127 (1981) (the administrative judge’s procedural error is of no legal
      consequence unless it is shown to have adversely affected a party’s substantive
      rights). In making a claim of bias or prejudice against an administrative judge, a
      party must overcome the presumption of honesty and integrity that accompanies
      administrative adjudicators. Oliver v. Department of Transportation, 1 M.S.P.R.
      382, 386 (1980).     The appellant’s broad allegation of bias is not sufficient to
      rebut this presumption.
¶10         Finally, the appellant requests “time for a[n] independent investigation into
      MWH records” to find evidence of discrimination that he was unable to obtain
      through the Freedom of Information Act. PFR File, Tab 1 at 3. We deny his
      request because evidence related to his discrimination claims would be immaterial
      to the relevant jurisdictional issue. See 5 C.F.R. § 1201.115(d).
¶11         For all these reasons, we decline to disturb the initial decision and find that
      the administrative judge properly dismissed the appeal for lack of jurisdiction.

                       NOTICE TO THE APPELLANT REGARDING
                          YOUR FURTHER REVIEW RIGHTS
            You have the right to request review of this final decision by the United
      States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. You must submit your request to
      the court at the following address:
                                  United States Court of Appeals
                                      for the Federal Circuit
                                    717 Madison Place, N.W.
                                     Washington, DC 20439

      3
        In an acknowledgment order, the administrative judge established the deadline for the
      close of record on the jurisdictional issue as 25 calendar days after the date of the order.
      IAF, Tab 2 at 5. Because the order was issued on December 30, 2014, the close of
      record deadline was actually January 26, 2015. See 5 C.F.R. § 1201.23; see also ID
      at 4 n.3. The record reflects that the administrative judge considered all of the
      appellant’s submissions below even though they may have been untimely. ID at 3 n.2,
      4 n.3.
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     The court must receive your request for review no later than 60 calendar
days after the date of this order. See 5 U.S.C. § 7703(b)(1)(A) (as rev. eff. Dec.
27, 2012). If you choose to file, be very careful to file on time. The court has
held that normally it does not have the authority to waive this statutory deadline
and that filings that do not comply with the deadline must be dismissed. See
Pinat v. Office of Personnel Management, 931 F.2d 1544 (Fed. Cir. 1991).
     If you need further information about your right to appeal this decision to
court, you should refer to the Federal law that gives you this right. It is found in
Title 5 of the United States Code, section 7703 (5 U.S.C. § 7703) (as rev. eff.
Dec. 27, 2012). You may read this law as well as other sections of the United
States   Code,     at   our    website,   http://www.mspb.gov/appeals/uscode.htm.
Additional       information     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, and 11.
     If you are interested in securing pro bono representation for an appeal to the
United States 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 Merit Systems Protection Board neither endorses the services
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provided by any attorney nor warrants that any attorney will accept representation
in a given case.

FOR THE BOARD:                           ______________________________
                                         William D. Spencer
                                         Clerk of the Board
Washington, D.C.