Court Opinion

ID: 9375921
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-03-01 15:01:28.934279+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:17:02.886609
License: Public Domain

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
                        MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION BOARD

     DONNA LOU CARRIER-TAL,                          DOCKET NUMBER
                 Appellant,                          DC-1221-12-0642-P-1

                  v.

     DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY,                         DATE: February 28, 2023
                 Agency.

             THIS FINAL ORDER IS NONPRECEDENTIAL 1

           Donna Lou Carrier-Tal, Yorktown, Virginia, pro se.

           Linda D. Taylor, Savannah, Georgia, for the agency.

           Thomas X. McHugh, Esquire, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for the agency.

                                           BEFORE

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

                                       FINAL ORDER

¶1         The appellant has filed a petition for review of the damages initial decision,
     which awarded her $713.15 and 30 hours of sick leave as consequential damages .
     For the reasons discussed below, we GRANT the appellant’s petition for review.

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        A nonprecedential order is one that the Board has determined does not add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 Parties may cite nonprecedential orders,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

     Except as expressly MODIFIED by this Final Order to increase the amount of
     leave restored and to award copying and printing costs, we AFFIRM the initial
     decision. We ORDER the agency to pay the appellant a total of $856.59 and
     restore a total of 192 hours of leave in consequential damages.

                                      BACKGROUND
¶2         In July 2012, the appellant filed an individual right of action appeal,
     alleging that her November 23, 2011 letter of reprimand was the result of
     whistleblower retaliation. Carrier-Tal v. Department of the Army, MSPB Docket
     No. DC-1221-12-0642-W-1, Initial Appeal File (IAF), Tab 1. The administrative
     judge dismissed the appeal for lack of jurisdiction, but the Board granted the
     appellant’s petition for review and remanded the case for a hearing on the merits.
     IAF, Tab 17, Initial Decision (ID); Carrier-Tal v. Department of the Army, MSPB
     Docket No. DC-1221-12-0642-W-1, Remand Order (Sept. 13, 2013).
¶3         On remand, the administrative judge granted the appellant’s request for
     corrective action.   Carrier-Tal v. Department of the Army, MSPB Docket No.
     DC-1221-12-0642-B-1, Remand File (RF), Tab 52, Remand Initial Decision
     (RID). She found that the appellant met her burden of proving that her protected
     activity was a contributing factor in the agency’s letter of reprimand and the
     agency failed to meet its burden of proving that it would have taken the same
     action in the absence of her protected activity. RID at 5 -18.
¶4         The agency filed a petition for review of the remand initial decision, but
     there were only two Board members at the time and they could not agree on an
     outcome.     Carrier-Tal v. Department of the Army, MSPB Docket No.
     DC-1221-12-0642-B-1, Order (Jan. 6, 2017).        Accordingly, the remand initial
     decision granting the appellant’s request for corrective action became the Board’s
     final decision.
¶5         In March 2017, the appellant filed a motion for damages. Carrier-Tal v.
     Department of the Army, MSPB Docket No. DC-1221-12-0642-P-1, Damages File
                                                                                       3

     (DF), Tab 1. In sum, she requested consequential and compensatory damages
     totaling approximately $1,000,000.      DF, Tab 1 at 17, Tab 3 at 7.           The
     administrative judge granted the request, in part. DF, Tab 14, Damages Initial
     Decision (DID) at 2-14. She ordered the agency to pay consequential damages in
     the amount of $713.15 and restore 30 hours of sick leave. DID at 15.
¶6        The appellant has filed a petition for review of the damages initial decision.
     Carrier-Tal v. Department of the Army, MSPB Docket No. DC-1221-12-0642-
     P-1, Damages Petition for Review (DPFR) File, Tab 1. The agency has filed a
     response and the appellant has replied. DPFR File, Tabs 5, 9.

                                        ANALYSIS
     The administrative judge properly recognized that the appellant is not entitled to
     compensatory damages.
¶7        The appellant argues that the administrative judge erred in altogether
     denying her request for compensatory damages. DPFR File, Tab 1 at 6. We
     disagree.    The   instant   motion   for   damages   concerns    the   appellant’s
     November 2011 reprimand. Supra, ¶ 2. At that time, the Board had the authority
     to award consequential damages to an appellant in whistleblower cases. See King
     v. Department of the Air Force, 119 M.S.P.R. 663, ¶ 11 (2013) (discussing the
     Whistleblower Protection Act (WPA)).        Although Congress later provided for
     compensatory as well as consequential damages in whistleblower cases, the Board
     has concluded that this expansion of consequential damages for past events does
     not apply retroactively. Id., ¶¶ 15-18 (discussing the Whistleblower Protection
     Enhancement Act of 2012, Pub. L. No. 112-199, 126 Stat. 1465, (WPEA), and
     5 U.S.C. § 1221(g)(1)(A)(ii)).
¶8        The appellant suggests that the administrative judge summarily dismissed
     damages that the appellant labeled as compensatory, without considering the
     underlying substance of those damages. DPFR File, Tab 1 at 6, 8. However, this
     argument is not supported by the record. The administrative judge did explain
     that compensatory damages are not permissible in this appeal.           DID at 2.
                                                                                        4

      Nevertheless, she went on to consider the appellant’s alleged damages,
      individually, to determine whether they were recoverable.       For example, the
      appellant requested a total of $975,000 for lost professional opportunities, pain,
      and suffering.    DF, Tab 1 at 12-16.        The administrative judge explicitly
      considered the request and found it not recoverable. DID at 14 (citing Bohac v.
      Department of Agriculture, 239 F.3d 1334, 1343 (Fed. Cir. 2001) (explaining that
      the “consequential damages” provision of the relevant statute, 5 U.S.C. § 1221(g),
      was “limited to reimbursement of out-of-pocket costs”)).         Accordingly, the
      appellant’s suggestion that the administrative judge altogether dismissed some of
      her damages requests based on their labeling, rather than their substance, is
      incorrect.

      The administrative judge erred in calculating the amount of leave the agency must
      restore to the appellant.
¶9          As the prevailing party, the appellant is entitled to “back pay and related
      benefits, medical costs incurred, travel expenses, and any other reasonable and
      foreseeable consequential [damages].”     5 U.S.C. § 1221(g)(1)(A)(ii); King v.
      Department of the Air Force, 122 M.S.P.R. 531, ¶ 7 (2015). Those damages are
      limited to out-of-pocket costs and do not include nonpecuniary damages.
      King, 122 M.S.P.R. 531, ¶ 7. The phrase “any other reasonable and foreseeable
      consequential [damages]” covers only items similar in nature to the specific items
      listed in the statute, i.e., back pay and related benefits, medical costs incurred,
      and travel expenses. Id. The Board has explained that, to receive a consequential
      damages award, an appellant must prove that she incurred consequential damages
      and that her claimed damages were reasonable, foreseeable, and causally rela ted
      to the agency’s prohibited personnel practice. Id.
¶10         Among the appellant’s requests for damages was a request that the agency
      restore 396.25 hours of leave in the years following the November 23, 2011
      reprimand, up to and including 2016. DF, Tab 1 at 10-12, 37. The administrative
      judge correctly recognized that sick leave used as a result of an agency’s
                                                                                       5

      whistleblower reprisal is a recoverable consequential damage as a medical cost
      incurred under section 1221(g)(1)(A).       DID at 12-13 (referring to King,
      122 M.S.P.R. 531, ¶ 13). She further found that other leave would similarly be
      recoverable if the appellant could prove that it was taken in lieu of sick leave.
      DID at 13. On review, the appellant does not appear to dispute this standard. She
      does, however, argue that the administrative judge erred in calculating the
      appropriate amount of leave the agency should restore.        DPFR File, Tab 1
      at 13-16. We agree.

             November 23, 2011—January 11, 2012
¶11         The appellant’s evidence in support of her request for restored leave
      includes a December 5, 2011 letter from her psychologist, dated just days after
      the retaliatory reprimand of November 23, 2011. DF, Tab 1 at 23. In that letter,
      the appellant’s psychologist recommended that the appellant be relieved of her
      work responsibilities for 30 days. Id. He attributed this to “mental confusion,
      anxiety, and posttraumatic stress related symptoms due to ongoing work related
      stress.”   Id.   The same psychologist provided an update on January 4, 2012,
      recommending further medical leave, while describing the underlying cause of the
      appellant’s continued symptoms as related to work incidents in which she felt she
      had been discriminated against. Id. at 24-25. The next update, from a different
      psychologist, concurred that the appellant had required medical leave for
      work-related symptoms “following a period of intense conflict at work” including
      “retaliatory actions and a written reprimand.” Id. at 26. However, based on a
      January 11, 2012 follow-up, that psychologist concluded in a medical note dated
      February 27, 2014, that the appellant’s condition had improved enough for her to
      return to work full-time. Id. He went on to describe the appellant as being able
      to work without disruption since January 2012, despite her continued symptoms
      and treatment. Id.
¶12         In addition to the medical evidence described above, the appellant created a
      table of her leave during the relevant period. Id. at 37. According to that table,
                                                                                       6

      the appellant used 192 hours of leave during the pay periods spanning her
      November 23, 2011 reprimand and her recovery on January 11, 2012. Id. Those
      calculations are supported by accompanying leave records. Id. at 70-71.
¶13        The administrative judge considered the first medical record, and its
      recommendation of 30 days of leave, but she then concluded that the appellant
      should be credited with 30 hours of leave. DID at 13. It appears that this may
      have been a typographical error.        The administrative jud ge provided no
      explanation for why it would be appropriate to grant 30 hours of leave despite her
      psychologist recommending 30 days of leave. Accordingly, we modify the initial
      decision to find that the agency must restore the 192 hours of leave the appel lant
      used between November 23, 2011, and January 11, 2012.

            January 29, 2012—July 28, 2012, and 2013—2016
¶14        In addition to requesting restoration of leave for the period immediately
      following her written reprimand, the appellant also requested that the agency
      restore 108.25 hours of leave for the period between January 29 and July 28,
      2012. DF, Tab 1 at 37. She further requested restoration of another 96 hours for
      the period between 2013 and 2016. Id.
¶15        On review, the appellant correctly observes that the administrative judge
      failed to substantively address these additional periods.     DPFR File, Tab 1
      at 14-16; see DID at 12-13. However, the appellant has not identified persuasive
      evidence establishing the cause of this leave. As observed above, although the
      appellant’s prior psychologist recommended a lengthier absence, a different
      psychologist released her to work, full-time, as of January 11, 2012. DF, Tab 1
      at 24-26. We find the second prognosis more persuasive. We further note that
      the appellant’s treating psychologist provided an update in February 2017, in
      which he described caring for the appellant “with some regularity . . . until
      August 2014.” Id. at 27. Yet, he did not mention any required leave during that
      period.
                                                                                           7

¶16         It was the appellant’s burden to prove not only that she took leave after
      January 11, 2012, but also that the leave was reasonable, foreseeable, and
      causally related to the agency’s prohibited personnel practice. We find that the
      appellant has failed to do so.

      The administrative judge erred in denying the appellant’s requested copying and
      printing costs.
¶17         The appellant’s request for damages included $143.44 in copying and
      printing costs. DR, Tab 1 at 11-12. To support that request, the appellant created
      a spreadsheet detailing the 1,304 pages associated with her appeal, beginning
      with her December 2011 OSC complaint and ending with a January 2 017
      certificate of service from the Board. Id. at 33-35. The appellant estimated the
      cost of those pages as 11 cents each, or $143.44. Id. at 35. The administrative
      judge denied the appellant’s request for these alleged costs because the appellant
      failed to attach receipts showing that they were actually incurred. DID at 13 -14.
¶18         On review, the appellant reasserts her alleged copying and pr inting costs.
      DPFR File, Tab 1 at 16-18. She acknowledges that the record did not contain
      receipts to corroborate those costs, but argues that she nevertheless proved them
      through her own sworn statements. Id. at 16. We agree.
¶19         The Board has found that the costs associated with photocopying are
      recoverable under 5 U.S.C. § 1221(g)(1). Smit v. Department of the Treasury,
      61 M.S.P.R. 612, 623-24 (1994). In addition to the table described above, the
      record does include a sworn statement in which the appellant asserts that she
      incurred printing and copying damages and those costs totale d $143.44.        DF,
      Tab 3 at 6.   Based on that sworn statement and the absence of any contrary
      evidence, we modify the damages initial decision to find that the agency must
      reimburse the appellant for the reasonable copying and printing costs of $143.44.
                                                                                             8

      The appellant has failed to establish any other error in the administrative judge’s
      findings regarding damages.
               Medical costs
¶20            The appellant requested $4,846.82 for medical visits and another $2,465.49
      for medications. DF, Tab 1 at 6-8, 12, 29-30, Tab 3 at 7. The administrative
      judge found that the appellant was only entitled to $230. DID at 3 -6, 8-9. She
      explained that while the record reflected a number of medical visits or treatments,
      $230 worth of co-pays were the only documented out-of-pocket costs to the
      appellant. DID at 5-6.
¶21            On review, the appellant asserts that she is entitled to the entire cost of her
      medical appointments, not just her co-pays. 2 DPFR File, Tab 1 at 18-19. We
      disagree.     The appellant is entitled to actual monetary losses or out -of-pocket
      expenses. King, 122 M.S.P.R. 531, ¶ 7. Costs paid by her insurer do not qualify
      as recoverable consequential damages. Id., ¶ 14. The appellant also asserts that
      the administrative judge erred by allowing reimbursement for treatment
      associated with one psychologist, but not her other medical providers.           DPFR
      File, Tab 1 at 19-21. Again, we disagree. As the administrative judge explained,
      even if these other visits were attributable to the agency’s prohibited personnel
      practice, the appellant failed to present evidence of her resulting out -of-pocket
      costs.      DID at 6.     For example, while the appellant submitted numerous
      statements from her insurer, she redacted fields that would have shown her
      out-of-pocket costs, if there were any, leaving only the total cost of the visit.
      E.g., DF, Tab 1 at 50.
¶22            Regarding her alleged medical costs, the appellant next argues that she
      should be reimbursed for her gym membership and a number of massages. DPFR
      File, Tab 1 at 20. The administrative judge found that the appellant failed to
      establish that these were damages that stemmed from the agency’s retaliation.

      2
       The appellant does not appear to challenge the administrative judge’s finding that the
      appellant was not entitled to reimbursement for the cost of medications. DID at 8-9.
                                                                                       9

      DID at 6. We agree. The appellant has not identified persuasive evidence, such
      as medical documentation showing that these services were attributable to the
      agency’s actions. See DF, Tab 1 at 11, 36, Tab 6 at 10. The appellant also argues
      that the administrative judge erred in denying her request for future medical
      costs.    DPFR File, Tab 1 at 21-23.   However, in doing so, the appellant has
      generally argued that the administrative judge failed to consider all her evidence
      pertaining to the mental and physical effects she has suffered. Id. She has not
      identified specific evidence in support of these claimed damages. Accordingly,
      we find no basis for disturbing the administrative judge’s conclusion that the
      appellant failed to prove her future medical costs. See Pastor v. Department of
      Veterans Affairs, 94 M.S.P.R. 353, ¶¶ 9, 22-30 (2003) (finding that future medical
      costs may be a recoverable consequential damage, but the appellant failed to
      prove such costs with reasonable certainty); Pastor v. Department of Veterans
      Affairs, 87 M.S.P.R. 609, ¶ 17 (2001) (recognizing that consequential damages
      encompasses future provable expenses, but they cannot be based on conjecture,
      surmise, or speculation—they must be proven with reasonable certainty).

               Transportation costs
¶23            Among her request for damages, the appellant alleged $689.36 in
      transportation costs associated with her medical care. DF, Tab 1 at 8 -9, 29-30.
      Using the General Services Administration’s mileage rates, the administrative
      judge found that the appellant met her burden for substantiating a portion of the
      mileage alleged, totaling $483.15. DID at 6-8. On review, the appellant argues
      that the administrative judge should have awarded her the full mileage costs she
      alleged. DPFR File, Tab 1 at 21. However, the appellant provided no substantive
      explanation and her mere disagreement does not warrant a different result. See
      Weaver v. Department of the Navy, 2 M.S.P.R. 129, 133 (1980) (recognizing that
      mere disagreement with the administrative judge’s findings of fact and
      conclusions of law does not warrant full review by the Board).
                                                                                       10

            Lost performance awards, quality step increases, and other opportunities
¶24        The appellant alleged that, if it were not for the agency’s retaliatory
      reprimand, she would have received both a $3,200 performance award and a
      quality step increase (QSI) valued at more than $18,000. DF, Tab 1 at 9 -10, 12.
      The administrative judge denied these alleged damages.        DID at 11-12.     She
      found that the appellant’s claim for these damages was, at best, speculative. Id.
      Moreover, the administrative judge found that they were not back pay or a related
      benefit recoverable under the WPA. Id.      Although the appellant reasserts these
      alleged damages on review, DPFR File, Tab 1 at 23 -24, we find no basis for
      disturbing the administrative judge’s conclusion. The appellant has not proven
      that these alleged losses were causally related to the agency’s retaliation. See
      King, 122 M.S.P.R. 531, ¶ 7.
¶25        As previously discussed, the appellant also alleged $375,000 in lost career
      opportunities, as well as another $550,000 in pain and suffering.       DF, Tab 1
      at 12-16. The administrative judge found that these types of damages were not
      recoverable under the WPA. DID at 14. On review, the appellant first argues
      that these types of damages are recoverable under the WPA, based upon the
      clarification provided by the WPEA. DPFR File, Tab 1 at 25 -27. But as we
      stated above, the Board has explicitly rejected this interpretation of the WPEA;
      while the WPEA did provide for compensatory damages, that expansion of leg al
      consequences is not a clarification, retroactive to cases governed by the WPA.
      Supra, ¶ 7.    The appellant also argues, in the alternative, that her alleged
      $375,000 in lost career opportunities is recoverable as a consequential damage.
      DPFR File, Tab 1 at 27-28. Once more, we disagree. The appellant has merely
      speculated that if it was not for the agency’s retaliatory reprimand, she could have
      been promoted to a GS-15 and earned an additional $125,000 over 5 years, then
      she could have moved to private practice and earned an additional $250,000 over
      5 years, for a total of $375,000. DF, Tab 1 at 14-15. In essence, the appellant is
      assigning monetary damages to an alleged injury to her reputation, but our
                                                                                       11

      reviewing court has found that injury to reputation, like pain and suffering, is not
      recoverable under the WPA. Bohac, 239 F.3d at 1336.

      The administrative judge did not abuse her discretion by rejecting one of the
      appellant’s pleadings and failing to strike one of the agency’s pleadings.
¶26        On review, the appellant alleges that the administrative judge erred by
      striking one of her initial pleadings from the record and accepting an untimely
      filed pleading from the agency. DPFR File, Tab 1 at 11-13. Regarding her own
      pleading, the appellant asserts that she initially filed both a motion for
      consequential damages and a motion for compensatory damages.             Id. at 11.
      According to the appellant, the administrative judge struck the former, “creat[ing]
      confusion and prejudice.” Id. However, the appellant has not explained what
      nonduplicative information or argument was included in that motion, nor has she
      explained why the motion’s exclusion was prejudicial.
¶27        Regarding the agency’s untimely pleading, the appellant correctly notes that
      the acknowledgment order did not provide for the agency to submit a reply brief,
      but the agency nevertheless submitted one, after the record was scheduled to
      close. Compare DF, Tab 2 at 3, with DF, Tab 8. However, it appears that the
      administrative judge did not rely on that pleading—it is not cited or referred to in
      the administrative judge’s damages initial decision.     See DID.     Moreover, an
      administrative judge has wide discretion to control the proceedings, including the
      discretion to accept late-filed submissions that contribute to the development of
      the record. E.g., Henry v. U.S. Postal Service, 100 M.S.P.R. 399, ¶ 7 (2005),
      overruled on other grounds by Fernandez v. Department of Justice , 105 M.S.P.R.
      443 (2007). Thus, the appellant’s procedural arguments are not pe rsuasive.

                                           ORDER
¶28        We concur with the administrative judge’s decision to grant the appellant’s
      motion for an award of consequential damages, and we ORDER the agency to pay
      the appellant $856.59 and to restore to her 192 hours of leave.        See Kerr v.
                                                                                          12

      National Endowment for the Arts, 726 F.2d 730 (Fed. Cir. 1984). The agency
      must complete this action no later than 20 days after the date of this decisio n.
¶29         We further ORDER the agency to tell the appellant promptly in writing
      when it believes it has fully carried out the Board’s Order and to describe the
      actions it took to carry out the Board’s Order. The appellant, if not notified,
      should ask the agency about its progress. See 5 C.F.R. § 1201.181(b).
¶30         No later than 30 days after the agency tells the appellant that it has fully
      carried out the Board’s Order, the appellant may file a petition for enforcement
      with the office that issued the initial decision in this appeal if the appellant
      believes that the agency did not fully carry out the Board’s Order. The petition
      should contain specific reasons why the appellant believes that the agenc y has not
      fully carried out the Board’s Order, and should include the dates and results of
      any communications with the agency. 5 C.F.R. § 1201.182(a).

                            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 (U.S.C.), sections 7701(g), 122 1(g), 1214(g) or 3330c(b);
      or 38 U.S.C. § 4324(c)(4).        The regulations may be found at 5 C.F.R.
      §§ 1201.201, 1202.202, 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.
                                                                                     13

                         NOTICE OF APPEAL RIGHTS 3
      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 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 carefully 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 re view
below to decide which one applies to your particular case. If you have questions
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).

3
  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.
                                                                                       14

      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
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. ____ , 137 S. Ct. 1975 (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
                                                                                 15

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 resp ective
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 Employm ent
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

      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
                                                                                     16

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. 4   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 t o 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

4
   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.
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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.