Court Opinion

ID: 2742527
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-10-15 20:00:30.480044+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:55:24.729350
License: Public Domain

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
                        MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION BOARD

     DAVID WAYNE YAGER,                              DOCKET NUMBER
                  Appellant,                         CH-4324-14-0514-I-1

                  v.

     UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE,                   DATE: October 15, 2014
                   Agency.

                       THIS ORDER IS NONPRECEDENTIAL *

           David Wayne Yager, Morganfield, Kentucky, pro se.

           James E. Campion, Jr., Esquire, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for the agency.

                                           BEFORE

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

                                     REMAND ORDER

¶1         The appellant has filed a petition for review of the initial decision, which
     dismissed, for lack of jurisdiction, his appeal challenging his nonselection for two
     positions. For the reasons discussed below, we GRANT the appellant’s petition
     for review. We AFFIRM the initial decision IN PART, VACATE it IN PART,

     *
        A nonprecedential order is one that the Board has determined does not add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 Parties may cite nonprecedential orders,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).
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     and REMAND the case to the regional office for further adjudication in
     accordance with this Order.
¶2         The appellant is employed as a Supervisor of Distribution Operations at the
     agency’s Evansville, Indiana facility. Initial Appeal File (IAF), Tab 1 at 1. The
     appellant filed a Board appeal challenging his nonselection for two positions,
     which allegedly were lateral transfers, promotions, or details within the agency.
     Id. The appellant, a 50-year-old veteran, argued that his nonselection constituted
     discrimination on the basis of his age and sex because the positions were filled by
     younger females.     Id. at 5.     The administrative judge issued a series of
     jurisdictional orders notifying the appellant of his burden to establish jurisdiction
     and of the relevant proof requirements under 5 U.S.C. chapter 75, the Veterans
     Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA), and the Uniformed Services
     Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (codified at 38 U.S.C.
     §§ 4301-4333) (USERRA). See IAF, Tabs 2, 7-8. In response, the appellant filed
     additional argument, further alleging that the agency discriminated against him on
     the basis of age, sex, and veterans’ preference by selecting less qualified
     nonveteran females. IAF, Tabs 4, 6, 10, 14. The agency moved to dismiss the
     appeal for lack of jurisdiction. IAF, Tab 5 at 4-7, Tab 13 at 4.
¶3         After the close of the record, the administrative judge issued an initial
     decision dismissing the appeal for lack of jurisdiction without holding the
     requested hearing. IAF, Tab 15, Initial Decision (ID). The administrative judge
     found that 5 U.S.C. chapter 75 does not provide employees a right to appeal
     nonselections for promotions, lateral transfers, or details and that, in the absence
     of an otherwise appealable action, the Board lacked jurisdiction over the
     appellant’s age and sex discrimination claims. ID at 3. Regarding the appellant’s
     service-related claims, the administrative judge found that, because the appellant
     did not present any argument or evidence that he had exhausted his administrative
     remedies with the Department of Labor (DOL), he failed to establish jurisdiction
     under VEOA. ID at 4. The administrative judge further found that, because the
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     appellant failed to establish that “his military service was a substantial or
     motivating factor in the agency’s failure to laterally transfer, detail, or promote
     him to either of the two positions in question,” the appellant failed to establish
     jurisdiction under USERRA. ID at 5-6.
¶4        The appellant has filed a timely petition for review. Petition for Review
     (PFR) File, Tab 1. The agency has not filed a response.

                     DISCUSSION OF ARGUMENTS ON REVIEW
¶5        On review, the appellant reasserts his claims of discrimination on the basis
     of age, sex, and veterans’ preference as the reasons for his nonselection. PFR
     File, Tab 1 at 3. The appellant further contends that he is more qualified than the
     two nonveteran females who were selected. Id. Furthermore, the appellant, who
     is pro se, argues that he has sufficiently responded to the administrative judge’s
     jurisdictional orders and established Board jurisdiction over his appeal; any
     deficiency in his pleadings, he argues, is attributable to his not “know[ing] how to
     address a judge.” Id.
¶6        Based on our review of the record and applicable law, we agree with the
     administrative judge’s findings that the appellant failed to nonfrivolously allege
     jurisdiction under VEOA and over his age and sex discrimination claims.
     However, we disagree with the administrative judge regarding the appellant’s
     USERRA claims.
     The appellant established jurisdiction over his USERRA appeal.

¶7        The Board’s jurisdiction is not plenary; it is limited to those matters over
     which it has been given jurisdiction by law, rule or regulation. Maddox v. Merit
     Systems Protection Board, 759 F.2d 9, 10 (Fed. Cir. 1985). The appellant bears
     the burden of proving, by preponderant evidence, that the Board has jurisdiction
     over his appeal. 5 C.F.R. § 1201.56(a)(2)(i). It is well settled that the Board
     generally lacks jurisdiction to review an agency’s decision not to select a
     particular applicant for a vacant position.    Sapla v. Department of the Navy,
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     118 M.S.P.R. 551, ¶ 8 (2012).     Nonetheless, an exception to this general rule
     exists in the context of a USERRA appeal. Id.
¶8        USERRA provides, in relevant part, that a person who has performed
     service in a uniformed service shall not be denied a promotion, or other benefit of
     employment, on the basis of that performance of service. 5 U.S.C. § 4311(a). To
     establish Board jurisdiction over a nonselection for promotion under USERRA,
     the appellant must at least allege that: (1) he performed duty in a uniformed
     service of the United States; (2) he was not selected for a promotion; and (3) the
     nonselection was due to the performance of duty in the uniformed service.
     Hillman v. Tennessee Valley Authority, 95 M.S.P.R. 162, ¶ 5 (2003), overruled on
     other grounds, Goldberg v. Department of Homeland Security, 99 M.S.P.R. 660,
     ¶ 8 n.1 (2005).    Here, as the administrative judge recognized, the appellant
     alleged, and the agency did not dispute, that he was a disabled veteran and lost a
     benefit of employment, i.e., a lateral transfer and a detail or promotion. ID at 5.
     However, we disagree with the administrative judge’s finding that the appellant’s
     statements “that he is a disabled veteran and two non-veteran females were
     selected for the position in question” are insufficient “to establish the Board’s
     jurisdiction over his claim that he was discriminated against because of his
     military service.” ID at 5.
¶9        The administrative judge incorrectly interpreted the “non-selection was due
     to the performance of duty in the uniformed service” jurisdictional element as
     requiring the appellant to “make a non-frivolous allegation that his military
     service was a substantial or motivating factor in the agency’s failure to select him
     for a lateral transfer, detail, or promotion.” ID at 5. In order to prevail on the
     merits of a USERRA claim under 38 U.S.C. § 4311(a), an appellant must prove,
     by preponderant evidence, that his uniformed service was a substantial or
     motivating factor in the agency action. Burroughs v. Department of the Army,
     120 M.S.P.R. 392, ¶ 5 (2013) (citing McMillan v. Department of Justice,
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      120 M.S.P.R. 1, ¶ 19 (2013)). However, that showing is not required in order to
      establish jurisdiction. See Hillman, 95 M.S.P.R. 162, ¶ 5.
¶10         In general, a claim under USERRA should be broadly and liberally
      construed. Tindall v. Department of the Army, 84 M.S.P.R. 230, ¶ 6 (1999). As a
      result, an argument that a nonveteran was selected over the appellant, who is a
      veteran, is sufficient to meet the third prong of USERRA’s jurisdictional
      requirement. See Durand v. Environmental Protection Agency, 106 M.S.P.R. 533,
      ¶ 8 (2007); see also Gaston v. Peace Corps, 100 M.S.P.R. 411, ¶¶ 7-8 (2005)
      (alleging that a nonveteran was selected over the appellant, a veteran, was
      sufficient to meet the nonselection due to the performance of duty in the
      uniformed service prong); Martir v. Department of the Navy, 81 M.S.P.R. 421,
      ¶¶ 7-12 (1999) (finding that the appellant met the third prong of the USERRA
      jurisdictional requirement by alleging that he was a veteran, the agency denied
      him permanent appointment to a vacant position, and the agency offered the
      appointments to similarly-situated nonveterans).      Here, in light of the liberal
      construction standard and the appellant’s pro se status, his contentions that less
      qualified nonveterans were selected over him, IAF, Tabs 4, 6, 10, 14; PFR File
      Tab 1, constitute an allegation that his nonselection was due to his prior
      uniformed service, see Durand, 106 M.S.P.R. 533, ¶ 8; see also Gaston,
      100 M.S.P.R. 411, ¶ 8; Martir, 81 M.S.P.R. 421, ¶ 9. Thus, the appellant has
      established that his appeal is covered under 38 U.S.C. § 4311(a) and therefore, is
      within the Board’s jurisdiction under 38 U.S.C. § 4324(b).         Accordingly, we
      VACATE the initial decision to the extent it found that the Board lacks
      jurisdiction over the appellant’s USERRA claim.
¶11         Because the appellant has established Board jurisdiction over his USERRA
      appeal, he is entitled to the hearing that he requested to further develop the record
      regarding his USERRA claim.         See Kirkendall v. Department of the Army,
      479 F.3d 830, 844-46 (Fed. Cir. 2007) (finding that an individual who brings a
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      USERRA appeal has an unconditional right to a hearing); see also Downs v.
      Department of Veterans Affairs, 110 M.S.P.R. 139, ¶¶ 17-18 (2008) (same).
      The administrative judge correctly dismissed the appellant’s VEOA claim for
      lack of jurisdiction.
¶12         The administrative judge found that the appellant did not satisfy VEOA’s
      jurisdictional requirements because he failed to show that he had exhausted his
      administrative remedies with DOL. ID at 4. To establish Board jurisdiction over
      an appeal brought under VEOA, an appellant must: (1) show that he exhausted
      his remedy with DOL; and (2) make nonfrivolous allegations that (i) he is a
      preference eligible within the meaning of the VEOA, (ii) the action(s) at issue
      took place on or after October 30, 1998, and (iii) the agency violated his rights
      under a statute or regulation relating to veterans’ preference.             Hillman,
      95 M.S.P.R. 162, ¶ 9. As the appellant has not offered any argument or evidence
      showing that he exhausted his administrative remedies with DOL, we agree with
      the administrative judge that the appellant failed to establish jurisdiction over his
      VEOA claim.
      The Board lacks jurisdiction to consider the appellant’s other discrimination
      claims.
¶13         Finally, the appellant claims that the agency discriminated against him
      based on his age and sex when it failed to select him for the two positions. IAF,
      Tabs 4, 6, 10, 14; PFR File, Tab 1. Absent an otherwise appealable action to the
      Board, these allegations of discrimination cannot be considered.       See Lowe v.
      Department of the Navy, 27 M.S.P.R. 223, 225 n.5 (1985) (citing Charles v.
      Department of the Navy, 3 M.S.P.R. 113, 114 (1980)). Because a nonselection is
      not an adverse action appealable to the Board, the appellant’s nonselection is not
      a basis for conferring Board jurisdiction over the appellant’s age and sex
      discrimination claims. See Elliott v. Department of the Air Force, 102 M.S.P.R.
      364, ¶ 5 (2006).      Furthermore, as the Board’s jurisdiction over USERRA
      complaints or appeals does not extend beyond the complained-of discrimination
      because of military status, USERRA also is not a basis for raising pendant age
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      and sex discrimination claims.       Metzenbaum v. Department of Justice,
      89 M.S.P.R. 285, ¶ 15 (2001). Thus, we agree with the administrative judge that
      the Board lacks jurisdiction over the appellant’s age and sex discrimination
      claims.
¶14        Therefore, we VACATE the portion of the initial decision addressing the
      appellant’s USERRA appeal, and we AFFIRM the portions of the initial decision
      addressing the appellant’s VEOA and sex and age discrimination claims. The
      appellant is entitled to notice regarding the USERRA methods of proof and his
      burden of proving his USERRA claim.       See Matz v. Department of Veterans
      Affairs, 91 M.S.P.R. 265, ¶¶ 8-9 (2002).      After holding a hearing on the
      appellant’s USERRA appeal, the administrative judge shall issue a new initial
      decision.

                                          ORDER
           For the reasons discussed above, we REMAND this case to the regional
      office for further adjudication in accordance with this Remand Order.        The
      administrative judge should incorporate her prior analysis and disposition of the
      appellant’s VEOA claim and sex and age discrimination claims in the new initial
      decision on the USERRA claim so that the appellant will have a single decision
      with appropriate notice of appeals rights addressing all of his claims.      See
      Goldberg v. Department of Homeland Security, 99 M.S.P.R. 660, ¶ 12 (2005).

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