Court Opinion

ID: 2732164
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-09-11 16:02:02.350696+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:34:59.500801
License: Public Domain

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
                        MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION BOARD

     SUSAN E. WILLIAMS,                              DOCKET NUMBER
                   Appellant,                        CH-0752-13-0396-I-1

                  v.

     DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY,                     DATE: August 28, 2014
                 Agency.

                THIS FINAL ORDER IS NONPRECEDENTIAL 1

           Ariel E. Solomon, Esquire, Albany, New York, for the appellant.

           Aaron J. Bennett, Esquire, Dallas, Texas, for the agency.

                                           BEFORE

                              Susan Tsui Grundmann, Chairman
                              Anne M. Wagner, Vice Chairman
                                 Mark A. Robbins, Member

                                       FINAL ORDER

¶1         The agency has filed a petition for review of the initial decision, which
     mitigated the appellant’s removal to a 90-day suspension.            For the reasons
     discussed below, we GRANT the agency’s petition for review, AFFIRM the

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        A nonprecedential order is one that the Board has determined does not add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 Parties may cite nonprecedential orders,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

     portion of the initial decision sustaining the agency’s charges, and MODIFY the
     initial decision to SUSTAIN the removal action.

                                      BACKGROUND
¶2         The appellant was a GS-12 Revenue Officer for the Internal Revenue
     Service (IRS). Initial Appeal File (IAF), Tab 8, Subtab 4a. On August 30, 2012,
     the agency proposed to remove the appellant based on two charges: (1) conduct
     unbecoming an IRS employee; and (2) failure to provide accurate information on
     official documents.    Id., Subtab 4d.     The agency listed one specification in
     support of its first charge and three specifications in support of its second charge.
     Id. After providing the appellant with the opportunity to respond to the proposal
     notice, the deciding official issued a decision letter sustaining the proposed
     removal. Id., Subtab 4b. The appellant was removed from her position effective
     February 22, 2013. 2 Id., Subtab 4a. Thereafter, she filed an appeal contesting her
     removal and raising numerous affirmative defenses, including a claim that the
     agency’s action was barred by the doctrine of laches and claims that the agency
     discriminated against her on the basis of her disability, retaliated against her for a
     prior equal employment opportunity and Board appeal, and violated her due
     process rights. IAF, Tab 1, Tab 18 at 3-4, Tab 26 at 10.
¶3         Following a hearing, the administrative judge issued an initial decision
     mitigating the removal to a 90-day suspension. IAF, Tab 27, Initial Decision (ID)
     at 2, 24. The administrative judge sustained both of the agency’s charges but
     found that the agency had failed to establish the first two specifications of its
     charge of failure to provide accurate information on official documents. ID at
     5-10. The administrative judge found that the agency established nexus and that
     2
       The appellant was previously removed by the agency effective March 2, 2011, for:
     (1) conduct unbecoming an IRS employee; (2) unauthorized possession of property; and
     (3) making false statements on an official work record. See Williams v. Department of
     the Treasury, MSPB Docket No. CH-0752-11-0434-I-1. The Board, however, reversed
     the agency’s removal action because it found that the agency had violated the
     appellant’s due process rights. Id., Final Order (Aug. 10, 2012).
                                                                                         3

     the appellant had failed to establish her affirmative defenses.         ID at 11-18.
     However, she found that the penalty of removal exceeded the maximum
     reasonable penalty and that the maximum penalty within the bounds of
     reasonableness was a long-term suspension of 90 days. ID at 23-24.
¶4         The agency has timely filed a petition for review.        Petition for Review
     (PFR) File, Tab 1. The appellant has filed a response to the agency’s petition for
     review, and the agency has filed a reply to the appellant’s response. PFR File,
     Tabs 4-5.   In its petition for review, the agency challenges the administrative
     judge’s findings that it failed to prove the first two specifications of its charge of
     failure to provide accurate information on official documents and that the
     agency-imposed penalty exceeded the bounds of reasonableness. PFR File, Tab 1
     at 6-24. The appellant, on the other hand, contends that the administrative judge
     properly found that the agency failed to prove the first two specifications of its
     second charge and that the administrative judge correctly mitigated the penalty. 3
     PFR File, Tab 4.
¶5         As discussed below, the agency’s assertions fail to provide a basis for
     disturbing the administrative judge’s finding that the agency did not prove the
     first two specifications of its charge of failure to provide accurate information on
     official documents.   However, we agree with the agency’s contention that the
     administrative judge erred in mitigating the penalty.

     3
       The parties do not dispute the administrative judge’s findings that the agency
     established nexus and that the appellant failed to establish her affirmative defenses.
     Accordingly, we do not further address these issues here. In any event, we discern no
     basis for disturbing these well-reasoned findings on review.
                                                                                         4

                     DISCUSSION OF ARGUMENTS ON REVIEW
     We discern no basis for disturbing the administrative judge’s findings regarding
     the agency’s charges.
          Conduct unbecoming an IRS employee
¶6        To prove a charge of conduct unbecoming a federal employee, an agency is
     required to demonstrate that the appellant engaged in the underlying conduct
     alleged in support of the broad label.             See Raco v. Social Security
     Administration, 117 M.S.P.R. 1, ¶ 7 (2011). In support of its charge of conduct
     unbecoming an IRS employee, the agency specified that, on January 14, 2009, the
     appellant was arrested and charged with one count of stealing in the amount of
     $136.50. IAF, Tab 8, Subtab 4d at 1. The agency stated that, on February 24,
     2010, the appellant pled guilty to one count of petty larceny and she was
     sentenced on March 4, 2010, to participate and complete 12 hours in the petty
     larceny offender program. Id.
¶7        We agree with the administrative judge’s finding that the agency proved
     that the appellant engaged in the misconduct underlying this charge.               In
     particular, as noted by the administrative judge, the appellant stipulated to the
     arrest for the allegation of shoplifting. ID at 5; IAF, Tab 23 at 1, Tab 8, Subtab
     4o at 48. The administrative judge further properly found that the appellant pled
     guilty to one count of petty larceny. 4 ID at 5-6; IAF, Tab 8, Subtab 4o at 63.
     Accordingly, we discern no basis for disturbing the administrative judge’s finding
     that the agency proved its charge of conduct unbecoming an IRS employee by
     preponderant evidence. ID at 6.
           Failure to provide accurate information on official documents
¶8        A charge of failure to provide information on official documents is a
     non-intent based charge. See Butler v. Internal Revenue Service, 86 M.S.P.R.

     4
       The administrative judge properly noted that, while the appellant explained that she
     pled guilty to avoid the costs of litigation and have the offense expunged from her
     record, an expungement of her record did not mean the offense did not occur. ID at 5.
                                                                                        5

     513, ¶ 7 (2000) (finding that specific intent was not a part of the charge of failure
     to provide accurate information on official documents). As previously noted, the
     agency listed three specifications in support of this charge.      IAF, Tab 8, Subtab
     4d at 1-2. Under the first specification, the agency stated that, on February 9,
     2009, the appellant documented a field call to Taxpayer A in the Integrated
     Collection System (ICS). Id. at 1. The agency stated that Taxpayer A, however,
     advised the appellant’s supervisor on February 12, 2009, that they had never met
     in person. Id. at 1. Under the second specification, the agency stated that, on
     February 11, 2009, the appellant documented a field call to Taxpayer B in ICS.
     Id.     The agency stated that Taxpayer B, however, advised the appellant’s
     supervisor that, while they had spoken with the appellant on February 11, 2009,
     the appellant did not visit their office on that date.       Id.     Under the third
     specification, the agency stated that, on February 11, 2009, the appellant
     documented a field call to Taxpayer C in ICS, in which the appellant stated that
     she had an in-depth discussion with the power-of-attorney (POA) for Taxpayer C.
     Id. at 2. The agency stated that the POA for Taxpayer C, however, stated in an
     interview on May 20, 2009, that he did not meet with the appellant in person on
     February 11, 2009, and that he had in fact never met with the appellant. Id.
¶9           In finding that the agency had failed to prove the two specifications under
     this charge, the administrative judge considered hearing testimony from the
     appellant and from the appellant’s supervisor and made comprehensive credibility
     findings. 5    ID at 6-10.    The Board must give deference to an administrative
     judge’s credibility determinations when they are based, explicitly or implicitly,
     on the observation of the demeanor of witnesses testifying at a hearing and can
     overturn such determinations only when it has “sufficiently sound” reasons for
     doing so. Haebe v. Department of Justice, 288 F.3d 1288, 1301 (Fed. Cir. 2002).
     Here, the administrative judge thoroughly reviewed the evidence and the hearing

     5
         Neither Taxpayer A nor Taxpayer B testified.
                                                                                        6

      testimony and specifically cited to Hillen v. Department of the Army, 35 M.S.P.R.
      453, 458 (1987), in setting forth her credibility determinations.      ID at 6-10.
      Because the administrative judge’s conclusions of credibility regarding the first
      two specifications underlying this charge were complete, based on proper
      considerations, and consistent with the record, we defer to them on review. See
      Crosby v. U.S. Postal Service, 74 M.S.P.R. 98, 105-06 (1997) (the Board will
      give due deference to the credibility findings of the administrative judge where
      the administrative judge considered the evidence as a whole, drew appropriate
      inferences, and made reasoned conclusions). Accordingly, we discern no basis
      for disturbing the administrative judge’s finding that the agency did not prove the
      first two specifications underlying its charge of failure to provide accurate
      information on official documents.
¶10        Regarding the third specification, the administrative judge considered the
      appellant’s testimony that it must have been a mistake or error on her part to state
      in the case history that she made a field call to the POA of Taxpayer C on
      February 11, 2009. ID at 10; Hearing Compact Diskette (CD) (Aug. 1, 2013)
      (testimony of the appellant).   The administrative judge further considered the
      testimony of an agent with the agency’s Treasury Inspector General for Tax
      Administration (TIGTA). ID at 10. As noted by the administrative judge, the
      TIGTA agent testified that she contacted Taxpayer C’s POA on May 20, 2009,
      inquiring if the appellant had made a field call to him on February 11, 2009. ID
      at 10; Hearing CD (Jul. 31, 2013) (testimony of TIGTA agent). The TIGTA agent
      testified that the POA informed her that the appellant did not meet with him in
      person on February 11, 2009, and that he had never met with the appellant.
      Hearing CD (Jul. 31, 2013) (testimony of TIGTA agent). Based on the foregoing,
      we agree with the administrative judge’s well-reasoned finding that the agency
      proved the third specification of its charge of failure to provide accurate
      information on official documents and that it therefore established this charge.
                                                                                             7

      ID at 10; see Payne v. U.S. Postal Service, 72 M.S.P.R. 646, 649 (1996) (proof of
      only one specification supporting a charge is sufficient to sustain the charge).

      The administrative judge erred in mitigating the penalty of removal.
¶11         When all of the agency’s charges are sustained, but some of the underlying
      specifications are not sustained, the agency’s penalty determination is entitled to
      deference and should be reviewed only to determine whether it is within the
      parameters of reasonableness. Parker v. U.S. Postal Service, 111 M.S.P.R. 510,
      ¶ 8, aff’d, 355 F. App’x 410 (Fed. Cir. 2009).         In applying this standard, the
      Board must take into consideration the failure of the agency to sustain all of its
      supporting specifications.     Id.    That failure may require, or contribute to, a
      finding that the agency’s penalty is not reasonable. Id. In such a case, the Board
      will look for evidence showing that the agency would have imposed the same
      penalty for the sustained specification. Id.
¶12         Nevertheless, the Board’s function is not to displace management’s
      responsibility or to decide what penalty it would impose but to assure that
      management’s judgment has been properly exercised and that the penalty selected
      by the agency does not exceed the maximum limits of reasonableness. Id., ¶ 9.
      Thus, the Board will modify a penalty only when it finds that the agency failed to
      weigh the relevant factors or that the imposed penalty clearly exceeded the
      bounds of reasonableness. 6     Id.    The deciding official need not show that he
      considered all the mitigating factors in determining the penalty.              Jones v.
      Department of the Interior, 97 M.S.P.R. 282, ¶ 14 (2004).              The Board will
      independently weigh the relevant factors only if the deciding official failed to

      6
        The Board has articulated factors to be considered in determining the propriety of a
      penalty, such as the nature and seriousness of the offense, the employee’s past
      disciplinary record, and the supervisor’s confidence in the employee’s ability to
      perform his assigned duties. Douglas v. Veterans Administration, 5 M.S.P.R. 280,
      305-06 (1981), aff’d, 111 F. App’x 610 (Fed. Cir. 2004). All of the factors will not be
      pertinent in every instance, and so the relevant factors must be balanced in each case to
      arrive at the appropriate penalty. Id. at 306.
                                                                                     8

      demonstrate that he considered any specific, relevant mitigating factors before
      deciding upon a penalty. Id. If the agency’s penalty is beyond the bounds of
      reasonableness, the Board will mitigate only to the extent necessary to bring it
      within the parameters of reasonableness. Id.
¶13        The administrative judge mitigated the penalty based in part on her finding
      that there were strong mitigating factors that the deciding official had not
      sufficiently considered and that rendered the penalty unreasonable. ID at 21-24.
      In particular, the administrative judge found that the appellant’s incident of
      shoplifting involved a small dollar amount of merchandise that consisted of
      off-duty conduct and that did not involve government property. ID at 21. The
      administrative judge found that, because the shoplifting incident had been
      expunged from the appellant’s record, the deciding official’s concern that the
      matter could become public knowledge is negated. ID at 21. The administrative
      judge further found that the appellant’s disabling medical conditions, including
      the appellant’s mental condition of depression and October 2008 lap band
      surgery, were strong mitigating factors that she could not ignore. ID at 21-23.
      The administrative judge noted that, as to two prior attendance-related
      suspensions that were relied on by the deciding official in making his penalty
      determination, the appellant had stated that she had not applied for leave under
      the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to cover this period because her
      supervisor had not discussed it with her. ID at 22. The administrative judge
      found it reasonable to infer from the evidence that the appellant’s mental
      condition of depression played a role in her failure to apply for leave under the
      FMLA. ID at 23.
¶14        We agree with the administrative judge’s finding that the deciding official
      failed to give adequate consideration to relevant mitigating factors, such as the
      appellant’s depression. The appellant’s doctor testified during the hearing that
      the appellant suffered from depression in 2009, at the time of the shoplifting
      episode and the sustained incident of failure to provide accurate information on
                                                                                        9

      official documents.     Hearing CD (Jul. 31, 2013) (testimony of the appellant’s
      doctor).     She also testified that, because depression manifests in inattention,
      memory loss, and impaired judgment, it was reasonable to attribute errors in
      reporting data and judgment to the appellant’s major depressive order. Id. While
      the deciding official testified that he had considered the appellant’s depression in
      making his penalty determination, we find that he did not give it sufficient
      consideration. ID at 20; Hearing CD (Jul. 31, 2013) (testimony of the deciding
      official).   The administrative judge also correctly found that the fact that the
      incident of shoplifting occurred off-duty is a mitigating factor that was not
      considered by the deciding official in his penalty determination.         See, e.g.,
      Mallery v. U.S. Postal Service, 41 M.S.P.R. 288, 293 (1989) (considering the
      non-work related nature of the theft at issue as a mitigating factor). Thus, we
      agree that the deciding official’s treatment of the mitigating factors in his
      decision letter and testimony was not sufficiently substantive, and that it is
      appropriate not to defer to his penalty determination. See Stuhlmacher v. U.S.
      Postal Service, 89 M.S.P.R. 272, ¶ 24 (2001) (finding that it was not appropriate
      to defer to the deciding official’s penalty determination where he failed to
      adequately consider relevant mitigating factors).
¶15         Notwithstanding this issue, we find that removal was the maximum
      reasonable penalty in this case. First, not all of the mitigating factors listed by
      the administrative judge in the initial decision are relevant to this case.     For
      example, we discern no evidence demonstrating a clear link between the
      appellant’s other medical conditions, such as her lap band surgery, and her
      misconduct. See Arena v. U.S. Postal Service, 121 M.S.P.R. 125, ¶ 12 n.1 (2014)
      (finding that the appellant’s contentions regarding her personal circumstances and
      depression did not weigh in favor of mitigation where there was no evidence on
      how they affected her behavior).           Additionally, we disagree with the
      administrative judge’s finding that the shoplifting incident involved a small dollar
      amount of merchandise.       As previously noted, the appellant was arrested and
                                                                                      10

      charged with one count of stealing in the amount of $136.50.              We find
      distinguishable the cases the administrative judge relied on in finding that this
      constituted a small dollar amount of merchandise. See Mallery, 41 M.S.P.R. at
      292-93 (1989) (mitigating the appellant’s removal to a 30-day suspension where
      the agency charged that the appellant was arrested at a local grocery store and
      charged with shoplifting a kitchen knife valued at $3.59); Thurmond v. U.S.
      Postal Service, 41 M.S.P.R. 227, 231-32 (1989) (finding the de minimis nature of
      the appellant’s theft to be an overriding mitigating factor where the appellant was
      charged with shoplifting a box of candy).
¶16         Second, the deciding official properly found that there were strong
      aggravating factors weighing in favor of removal. The deciding official correctly
      determined that the sustained misconduct under the charge of failure to provide
      accurate information on official documents was serious. IAF, Tab 8, Subtab 4b at
      1-2; Hearing CD (Jul. 31, 2013) (testimony of deciding official); see
      Butler, 86 M.S.P.R. 513, ¶ 7 (finding the sustained misconduct to be serious
      where the appellant was charged in part with failure to provide accurate
      information on official documents). He explained that, as a Revenue Officer, the
      appellant was responsible for representing the agency in matters dealing with the
      taxpaying public, including the seizure of assets. IAF, Tab 8, Subtab 4b at 2. He
      testified that failing to provide accurate information on official documents
      impacted the appellant’s position as a Revenue Officer because the official
      documents depict what the agency has done to effectively administer tax laws.
      Id.   The deciding official also properly considered the seriousness of the
      shoplifting incident and its relation to the appellant’s position and duties. He
      found this misconduct to be serious in light of the high standards of honesty and
      integrity required of the appellant’s position.     Hearing CD (Jul. 31, 2013)
      (testimony of deciding official); cf. Cooper v. U.S. Postal Service, 42 M.S.P.R.
      174, 180-81 (1989), aff’d, 904 F.2d 46 (Fed. Cir. 1990) (Table) (finding removal
      to be a reasonable penalty where a law enforcement official shoplifted two bottles
                                                                                          11

      of men’s cologne); Mojica-Otero v. Department of the Treasury, 30 M.S.P.R. 46,
      50 (1986) (removal was reasonable where a Customs Officer was detained for
      shoplifting two pairs of shorts).
¶17         In addition, the deciding official considered the appellant’s prior discipline,
      which included a 30-day suspension in 1996 for unauthorized access of the
      Integrated Data Retrieval System, a 15-day suspension in 2009 for absence
      without official leave (AWOL) charges, and a 168-day suspension in 2010 for
      AWOL charges. IAF, Tab 8, Subtab 4b at 1. The agency notified the appellant in
      the notice of proposed removal that it was relying on her prior discipline to
      support the instant action.        IAF, Tab 8, Subtab 4d at 2.       Under Bolling v.
      Department of the Air Force, 9 M.S.P.R. 335 (1981), when an agency relies on
      past discipline to support the disciplinary action that is on appeal, the Board will
      generally review the past discipline to determine whether: (1) the employee was
      informed of the action in writing; (2) the employee had an opportunity to have the
      action reviewed, on the merits, by an authority different from the one that took
      the action; and (3) the action was made a matter of record. Id. at 338–39. If
      those three criteria are met, the Board will discount the past discipline only if it is
      left with a “definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed.” Id.
      at 340.      Here, the administrative judge did not review the appellant’s past
      discipline upon which the agency relied.         However, the Board has held that
      Bolling review is required only where the appellant has actually challenged the
      validity of her prior discipline on appeal.              Rosenberg v. Department of
      Transportation, 105 M.S.P.R. 130, ¶ 34 (2007). Where, as here, the appellant did
      not challenge the validity of the prior discipline, only the occurrence of the prior
      discipline must be verified. See id. The parties’ stipulations, IAF, Tab 23 at 1,
      constitute     verification   of     the   appellant’s     prior   discipline.     See
                                                                                            12

      Rosenberg, 105 M.S.P.R. 130, ¶ 34.          We therefore conclude that the agency
      properly considered the appellant's prior discipline. 7 See id.
¶18         The deciding official stated that he had lost confidence in the appellant’s
      ability to do her job and that her potential for rehabilitation was minimal based on
      her prior record and the fact that she did not show remorse for the shoplifting
      charge.   Hearing CD (Jul. 31, 2013) (testimony of the deciding official).           He
      testified that either of the charges against the appellant standing alone warranted
      removal because of the extreme seriousness of the charges and the appellant’s
      prior disciplinary history.    Id.   For the reasons discussed above, we find that
      removal is the maximum reasonable penalty under the circumstances.                  The
      agency’s removal action is therefore SUSTAINED.

                       NOTICE TO THE APPELLANT REGARDING
                          YOUR FURTHER REVIEW RIGHTS
            The initial decision, as supplemented by this Final Order, constitutes the
      Board’s final decision in this matter. 5 C.F.R. § 1201.113. You have the right to
      request further review of this final decision.

      Discrimination Claims: Administrative Review
            You may request review of this final decision on your discrimination
      claims by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). See Title 5
      of the United States Code, section 7702(b)(1) (5 U.S.C. § 7702(b)(1)). If you
      submit your request 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

      7
        To the extent the administrative judge found that the appellant’s absence-related prior
      discipline should not be considered as an aggravating factor because of the appellant’s
      failure to request FMLA, any such finding was an error.
                                                                                   13

      If you submit your request 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, NE
                                  Suite 5SW12G
                            Washington, D.C. 20507

      You should send your request to EEOC no later than 30 calendar days after
your receipt of this order. If you have a representative in this case, and your
representative receives this order before you do, then you must file with EEOC no
later than 30 calendar days after receipt by your representative. If you choose to
file, be very careful to file on time.

Discrimination and Other Claims: Judicial Action
      If you do not request EEOC to review this final decision on your
discrimination claims, you may file a civil action against the agency on both your
discrimination claims and your other claims in an appropriate United States
district court. See 5 U.S.C. § 7703(b)(2). You must file your civil action with
the district court no later than 30 calendar days after your receipt of this order. If
you have a representative in this case, and your representative receives this order
before you do, then you must file with the district court no later than 30 calendar
days after receipt by your representative. If you choose to file, be very careful to
file on time. 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
                                                                      14

prepayment of fees, costs, or other security.   See 42 U.S.C. § 2000e5(f)
and 29 U.S.C. § 794a.

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