Court Opinion

ID: 9491634
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 14:19:15.017922+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:54:51.506361
License: Public Domain

LOURIE, Circuit Judge,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent.
The majority opinion reflects the view that Sweeney was unjustly fired after a settlement had been reached. However, whether or not the agency acted properly, I do not believe the merits of the firing are before us. The AJ decided that Sweeney’s appeal, which Sweeney took more than a month before the notice of removal, should be dismissed in light of the settlement agreement. The full Board denied review, noting that any petition from a subsequent action by the agency had to be the subject of a separate appeal. I think that is correct.
Whether or not Sweeney had a basis to challenge the agency’s pre-appeal compliance with the settlement agreement, or had a basis to challenge his subsequent removal, his claim that the agency breached the settlement agreement by his firing was not the subject of his appeal and was not decided by the AJ. Thus, the Board was correct and I would affirm the dismissal.