Court Opinion

ID: 9373792
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-02-22 16:07:23.263028+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:16:43.502357
License: Public Domain

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
                        MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION BOARD

     RAMI S. AUDI,                                   DOCKET NUMBER
                         Appellant,                  PH-0752-20-0350-I-1

                  v.

     DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE,                          DATE: April 1, 2022
                 Agency.

             THIS FINAL ORDER IS NONPRECEDENTIAL 1

           Rami S. Audi, Paramus, New Jersey, pro se.

           Clifford J. Allen, Garden City, New York, for the agency.

                                           BEFORE

                               Raymond A. Limon, Vice Chair
                                 Tristan L. Leavitt, Member

                                       FINAL ORDER

¶1         The appellant has filed a petition for review of the initial decision, which
     affirmed the appellant’s indefinite suspension based on the suspension of his
     access to classified information.    On petition for review the appellant argues,
     among other things, that his indefinite suspension was improper because he
     should have been allowed to continue to work or kept on administrative leave, 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        A nonprecedential order is one that the Board has determined does not add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 Parties may cite nonprecedential orders,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

     agency committed harmful error by violating its procedures, the administrative
     judge was biased against him, and the testimony of agency witnesses was
     inaccurate. Generally, we grant petitions such as this one only in the following
     circumstances: the initial decision contains erroneous findings of material fact;
     the initial decision is based on an erroneous interpretation of statute or regulation
     or the erroneous application of the law to the facts of the case; the administrative
     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.        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, 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).

                     DISCUSSION OF ARGUMENTS ON REVIEW
¶2         The appellant makes several arguments on review for the first time which
     he could have made on appeal. Because he fails to show that these arguments are
     based on new and material evidence not previously available despite his due
     diligence, we need not consider them.          Clay v. Department of the Army,
     123 M.S.P.R. 245, ¶ 6 (2016). However, even if we were to consider them, they
     would fail to show error by the administrative judge. To the extent the appellant
     contests the agency’s decision to suspend his access to classified information,
     Petition for Review (PFR) File, Tab 4 at 10, the Board lacks authority to review
     the merits of such a decision. Palafox v. Department of the Navy, 124 M.S.P.R.
     54, ¶ 8 (2016). To the extent the appellant argues that he should have been kept
     at work or on administrative leave, PFR File, Tab 4 at 11-12, we have previously
                                                                                       3

     held that ordering an employee’s restoration to duty or to paid administrative
     leave before an agency reinstates his access to classified information intrudes
     upon an agency’s authority to regulate and manage employees’ access to
     classified information. Ryan v. Department of Homeland Security, 121 M.S.P.R.
     460, ¶ 15 (2014), overruled on other grounds by Freeze v. Department of the
     Navy, 122 M.S.P.R. 179 (2015).       Further, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the
     Federal Circuit has held that the Board lacks authority to inquire into the
     feasibility of transferring an employee whose security clearance had been denied
     to an alternative position absent a policy requiring such transfers.     Griffin v.
     Defense Mapping Agency, 864 F.2d 1579, 1580-81 (Fed. Cir. 1989). Because no
     policy required the appellant’s reassignment, see Initial Appeal File (IAF), Tab
     32 at 5, we may not review whether the appellant should have been reassigned
     instead of subjected to an adverse action.
¶3        The appellant makes new harmful error arguments, PFR File, Tab 4 at 12,
     18-19, but these fail to identify any violation of agency procedures and therefore
     lack merit. See Hylick v. Department of the Air Force, 85 M.S.P.R. 145, ¶ 13
     (2000) (reversing an administrative judge’s finding of harmful error when the
     employee did not prove that the agency violated a law, rule, or regulation). The
     appellant notes his inability to obtain documents referenced in the Statement of
     Reasons (SOR) for the preliminary revocation of his eligibility for access to
     classified information, PFR File, Tab 4 at 15, but he had no due process rights
     with respect to the procedures used to preliminarily revoke his access eligibility,
     and therefore had no right to receive the evidence underlying the SOR prior to his
     indefinite suspension. Gargiulo v. Department of Homeland Security, 727 F.3d
     1181, 1185 (Fed. Cir. 2013). Finally, to the extent the appellant suggests his
     indefinite suspension constituted age discrimination, PFR File, Tab 4 at 11, the
     Board may not adjudicate whether an agency’s adverse action premised on the
     suspension or revocation of a security clearance constitutes impermissible
                                                                                          4

     discrimination. Putnam v. Department of Homeland Security, 121 M.S.P.R. 532,
     ¶ 18 (2014).
¶4         The appellant’s arguments on review which he did not have the opportunity
     to assert previously also do not warrant disturbing the initial decision. First, the
     appellant claims that the administrative judge was biased against him due to
     improper consideration of information about his “demeanor.” PFR File, Tab 4
     at 12-13, 19-20.     This argument fails because not only is his allegation
     unsupported by any evidence, but an administrative judge’s bias must be
     demonstrated by extrajudicial conduct, rather than conduct arising in the
     administrative proceedings as alleged by the appellant. Gensburg v. Department
     of Veterans Affairs, 85 M.S.P.R. 198, ¶¶ 6, 8 (2000). Second, contrary to the
     appellant’s    argument,   we   find   no   inconsistency   between    the   ag ency’s
     maximization of telework during the COVID-19 pandemic and the deciding
     official’s testimony that employees performed classified work during the
     pandemic. PFR File, Tab 4 at 17. Lastly, the appellant raises an inconsistency
     between a security specialist’s hearing testimony and her affidavit.         Id.   The
     inconsistency was minor and immaterial to the ultimate issues in the case,
     providing no grounds to disturb the initial decision. See Lucas v. Department of
     the Army, 11 M.S.P.R. 334, 337 (1982).         Further, to the extent the appellant
     raised this inconsistency in order to support a harmful error claim, his claim fails
     because he did not show that the agency violated its procedures. 2              Hylick,
     85 M.S.P.R. 145, ¶ 13.

     2
       The appellant argued below and on review that, while he was on administrative leave
     prior to his indefinite suspension, he did not receive emails sent to all agency
     employees regarding voluntary early retirement. IAF, Tab 1 at 5, Tab 27 at 57-60, 91;
     PFR File, Tab 4 at 11. The Board has jurisdiction to hear an appeal of an employing
     agency’s “administrative action or order” affecting an individual’s rights or interests
     under the retirement statutes. Adams v. Department of Defense, 688 F.3d 1330, 1335
     (Fed. Cir. 2012). Other than his nonreceipt of emails while he was on administrative
     leave, the appellant has not pointed to any agency action denying his application for
     early retirement or otherwise finding him ineligible for such a benefit. Because there
     was no “administrative action or order” affecting the appellant’s rights or interest s
                                                                                         5

                          NOTICE OF APPEAL RIGHTS 3
       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 review
below to decide which one applies to your particular case. If you have questions

under a retirement statute, the Board lacks jurisdiction over the claim. Eller v. Office of
Personnel Management, 121 M.S.P.R. 551, ¶ 8 (2014) (stating that the Board has
jurisdiction over an “administrative action or order” affecting an individual’s rights or
interests under the retirement statutes); see Edwards v. Office of Personnel
Management, 11 M.S.P.R. 562, 565 n.1 (1982) (finding the Board lacked jurisdiction
over a claim by an appellant covered under the Civil Service Retirement System
(CSRS) that he was entitled to a refund of retirement deductions when he did not apply
for a refund and there was no decision on the matter); Pair v. Government of the
District of Columbia, 7 M.S.P.R. 175, 176 (1981) (finding there was no administrative
action or order appealable to the Board when the appellant, covered under CSRS,
proffered no evidence that she submitted a retirement application or that her claim for
an annuity was adjudicated); 5 C.F.R. § 1201.3(a)(2). If the appellant wishes to pursue
a claim of his entitlement to early retirement, he must first obtain a decision regarding
his entitlement from the agency. The appellant also asserted in his initial appeal that he
was excluded from offers of early retirement as possible whistleblower retaliation.
IAF, Tab 1 at 5. If the appellant wishes to pursue a whistleblower reprisal claim, he
may seek corrective action from the Office of Special Counsel. See 5 U.S.C.
§ 1214(a)(3).
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.
                                                                                          6

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 partic ular
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
                                                                                  7

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
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 secur ity. 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 res pective
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 yo u 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
                                                                                      8

      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. 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 to the court at the
following address:

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.
                                                                                9

                             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.go v. 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.