Court Opinion

ID: 496165
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2011-08-23 09:52:10+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T10:13:10.946030
License: Public Domain

831 F.2d 306
Unpublished DispositionNOTICE: Federal Circuit Local Rule 47.8(b) states that opinions and orders which are designated as not citable as precedent shall not be employed or cited as precedent.  This does not preclude assertion of issues of claim preclusion, issue preclusion, judicial estoppel, law of the case or the like based on a decision of the Court rendered in a nonprecedential opinion or order.Lonnie M. JACOBS, Sr., Petitioner,v.DEPARTMENT OF the NAVY, Respondent.
Appeal No. 87-3344
United States Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit.
September 18, 1987.

Before MARKEY, Chief Judge, and FRIEDMAN and NIES, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM.

DECISION

1
The decision of the Merit Systems Protection Board (board), Docket No. AT07528710050, sustaining Department of the Navy's (agency's) removal of Lonnie M. Jacobs, Sr. for careless workmanship which damaged government property and endangered the safety of personnel is affirmed.

OPINION

2
There is substantial evidence to support the administrative judge's determination that in light of Jacobs' careless workmanship leading to the destruction of a Navy boat, the danger to personnel, and past disciplinary record there is no basis for mitigating the penalty of removal.  This Court will not disturb a choice of penalty within the agency's discretion unless the severity of its action appears totally unwarranted in light of all relevant factors.  See Yeschick v. Department of Transportation, 801 F.2d 383, 384-85 (Fed.  Cir. 1986); DeWitt v. Department of the Navy, 747 F.2d 1442, 1445 (Fed.  Cir. 1984), cert. denied, 470 U.S. 1054 (1985).

3
Mr. Jacobs's claims of disparate treatment and racial discrimination fail to allege a set of facts which, if proven, would comprise even a minimal prima facie case of discrimination.  Hill v. Department of the Air Force, 796 F.2d 1469, 1471 (Fed.  Cir. 1986).  Thus this is not a 'mixed' case under 5 U.S.C. Sec. 7702.  In addition, we have considered Mr. Jacob's settlement argument and find it equally without merit.

4
We affirm on the basis of the board's opinion because we do not find the decision arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with law, or obtained without procedures required by law, rule, or regulation having been followed, or unsupported by substantial evidence.  5 U.S.C. Sec. 7703(c) (1982); see Hayes v. Department of the Navy, 727 F.2d 1535, 1537 (Fed.  Cir. 1984).

5
Judge Nies would dismiss with prejudice for failure to comply with Rule 10(c)(4) of this court.  Jacobs does not raise only issues of the board's dismissal for lack of jurisdiction or for untimeliness.  Indeed, there are no such issues in the case.