Court Opinion

ID: 9406557
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-07-01 06:00:23.097556+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:20:31.371440
License: Public Domain

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
                        MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION BOARD

     JASON T. DIAS,                                  DOCKET NUMBER
                         Appellant,                  PH-0752-18-0351-I-1

                  v.

     DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE,                          DATE: June 30, 2023
                 Agency.

             THIS FINAL ORDER IS NONPRECEDENTIAL 1

           Ross A. Nabatoff, Esquire, Washington, D.C., for the appellant.

           Margo Chan, Esquire, Denver, Colorado, for the agency.

           Susan E. Gibson, Esquire, Washington, D.C., for the agency.

                                           BEFORE

                               Cathy A. Harris, Vice Chairman
                                Raymond A. Limon, Member

                                       FINAL ORDER

¶1         The agency has filed a petition for review of the initial decision, which
     reversed its removal action, finding that it failed to prove the charge. Generally,
     we grant petitions such as this one only in the following circumstance s:          the
     initial decision contains erroneous findings of material fact; the initial decision is

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        A nonprecedential order is one that the Board has determined does not add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 Parties may cite nonprecedential orders,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

     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 ruling s
     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).

                                      BACKGROUND
¶2        The appellant was a Deputy U.S. Marshal with the U.S. Marshals Service
     (USMS). Initial Appeal File (IAF), Tab 6 at 8. In June 2016, he underwent right
     knee reconstruction, resulting in his placement on limited duty within the agency.
     IAF, Tab 7 at 11, Tab 17 at 26-27. Under agency policy, employees on limited
     duty must support their limited duty assignment with medical documentation,
     updated monthly, using the Form USM-522A, Physician Evaluation Report for
     USMS Operational Employees (522A).            IAF, Tab 7 at 12, 57.       Thus, in
     accordance with the policy, the appellant was required to submit a new 522A
     every month until his doctor cleared him to return to full duty.
¶3        The appellant submitted 522As from June through December 2016. IAF,
     Tab 6 at 53, Tab 17 at 26-27. He also submitted a 522A dated January 1, 2017.
     IAF, Tab 7 at 16-17.     Upon reviewing this form, a member of the agency’s
     medical staff noticed that it appeared to be identical to the appellant’s
     December 1, 2016 522A, except for the date. Id. at 11. This ultimately prompted
     an investigation by the agency’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) into
                                                                                         3

     whether the appellant falsified documents relating to the agency’s limited duty
     program. Id. at 5. During his interview with the OIG, the appellant admitted to
     changing the date on the January 1, 2017 522A, as well as on a subsequent 522A
     dated February 2, 2017. Id. at 6. According to the appellant, he submitted the
     two altered documents to avoid the inconvenience of contacting the doctor’s
     office to obtain new 522As. Id. After submitting the altered 522As, the appellant
     submitted legitimate 522As on February 23 and March 23, 2017, and was cleared
     to return to full duty in April 2017. IAF, Tab 17 at 17-24.
¶4         By notice dated March 19, 2018, the agency charged the appellant with
     falsification of official documents and proposed his removal.           IAF, Tab 6
     at 118-26. The charge included two specifications, the first based on the altered
     January 1, 2017 522A, and the second based on the altered February 2, 2017
     522A. Id. at 118-19. The appellant submitted both a written and oral reply. Id.
     at 13-44.   On June 5, 2018, the agency sustained both specifications and the
     charge and thus removed the appellant. Id. at 8-12.
¶5         The appellant filed the instant appeal. IAF, Tab 1 at 4. After holding a
     hearing, the administrative judge issued a decision finding the agency did not
     prove its charge and reversing the appellant’s removal on that basis . IAF, Tab 27,
     Initial Decision (ID) at 1, 23. In reversing the agency’s action, the administrative
     judge found that the appellant’s inaccurate statements, the altered dates on the
     522As, were not material and were not done for private material gain. ID at 19.
     According to the administrative judge, the misstatements were not material
     because the appellant knew that his medical condition remained the same in
     January and February of 2017, and thus, he would have remained on limited duty
     regardless of whether he falsified the forms. ID at 22. The ad ministrative judge
     also found that the appellant altered the dates to avoid the hassle of contacting his
     medical provider to obtain a new 522A, which was so minor and intangible that it
     was insufficient to amount to a private material gain. ID at 22 -23.
                                                                                           4

¶6         The agency has filed a petition for review. Petition for Review (PFR) File,
     Tab 1. The appellant has responded and also requested that the Board dismiss the
     petition for review for failure to provide interim relief. PFR File, Tab 3. The
     agency has replied to his response and provided additional evidence of
     compliance. PFR File, Tab 4. 2

                      DISCUSSION OF ARGUMENTS ON REVIEW
     We decline to dismiss the petition for review based on the agency’s
     noncompliance with the order for interim relief.
¶7         When, as here, the appellant was the prevailing party in the initial decision
     and interim relief was ordered, a petition for review filed by the agency must be
     accompanied by a certification that the agency has complied with the interim
     relief order, either by providing the interim relief ordered or by making a
     determination that returning the appellant to the place of employment would
     cause undue disruption to the work environment. Elder v. Department of the Air
     Force, 124 M.S.P.R. 12, ¶ 18 (2016).         The appellant challenges the agency’s
     certification of compliance with the interim relief order and requests that the
     Board dismiss the agency’s petition for review on that basis. PFR File, Tab 3
     at 11-12. In particular, he alleges that the agency failed to reinstate him effective
     May 10, 2019, the date of the initial decision. PFR File, Tab 3 at 11. He also
     argues that the agency has not issued his credentials, which he needs to carry a
     weapon, and has not returned him to his regular duties. Id. at 10-11. Because, as
     discussed below, we deny the agency’s petition for review, the issuance of our

     2
        The appellant subsequently submitted new evidence of the agency’s alleged
     noncompliance with the interim relief order, which he argues only became available to
     him after he filed his response to the agency’s petition for review. PFR File, Tab 5.
     We find it unnecessary to make a determination as to whether to consider this evidence.
     As set forth below, our final decision renders moot any dispute concerning the a gency’s
     compliance with the interim relief order. See Elder v. Department of the Air Force,
     124 M.S.P.R. 12, ¶ 20 (2016) (explaining that the Board would not seek additional
     evidence of compliance from an agency when the final decision rendered moot any
     dispute concerning the agency’s compliance with the interim relief order).
                                                                                        5

     final decision renders moot any dispute concerning the agency’s compliance with
     the interim relief order. Elder, 124 M.S.P.R. 12, ¶ 20. If the appellant believes
     that the agency is in noncompliance with the Board’s Final Order, he may file a
     petition for enforcement in accordance with the instructions provided below. Id.

     The administrative judge correctly determined that the agency failed to prove the
     charge of falsification.
¶8         To establish a charge of falsification, the agency must prove by
     preponderant evidence that the appellant (1) supplied wrong information, and
     (2) knowingly did so with the intention of defrauding, deceiving, or misleading
     the agency. Boo v. Department of Homeland Security, 122 M.S.P.R. 100, ¶ 10
     (2014). The first element of the test requires that the agency prove that the false
     statement was “material.”     Leatherbury v. Department of the Army, 524 F.3d
     1293, 1300 (Fed. Cir. 2008). The second element requires that the agency prove
     that the appellant’s falsification was done for his own “private material gain.”
     Boo, 122 M.S.P.R. 100, ¶ 12 (citing Leatherbury, 524 F.3d at 1300).
¶9         The administrative judge concluded that the misrepresentation s at issue here
     were neither material nor made for private material gain.        ID at 18 -23.   The
     agency argues that the administrative judge’s statement of its burden was
     incorrect.   It asserts that the falsification in the cases relied on by the
     administrative judge involved false statements, whereas this appeal involves “the
     alteration and forgery of a document.” PFR File, Tab 1 at 8. The agency cites
     Brown v. Defense Logistics Agency, 65 M.S.P.R. 436, 442 (1994), aff’d per
     curiam, 67 F.3d 319 (Fed. Cir. 1995) (Table), in which the Board held that
     whether the appellant intended to gain personally from the falsification was
     immaterial to finding intent. PFR File, Tab 1 at 8-9. The holding in Brown was
     effectively overruled in Leatherbury, 524 F.3d at 1300, in which the U.S. Court
     of Appeals for the Federal Circuit held that, to prove a charge of falsification, the
     agency must show that the employee intended to defraud the agency for his own
     private material gain.   See Boo, 122 M.S.P.R. 100, ¶¶ 11-12 (modifying the
                                                                                        6

      Board’s prior decisions in Seas v. U.S. Postal Service, 73 M.S.P.R. 422, 427
      (1997), and Schoeffler v. Department of Agriculture, 47 M.S.P.R. 80, 84, vacated
      in part on other grounds by 50 M.S.P.R. 143, 146 (1991), to the extent that they
      suggested that an agency does not have to establish that an employee personally
      benefitted or gained from his misrepresentation to prove a charge of falsification).
      The cases modified by Boo, like the instant appeal, involved alleged falsification
      of agency documents.       See Seas, 73 M.S.P.R. at 427-28 (finding that an
      administrative judge properly affirmed a charge of falsification based on an
      appellant signing her subordinate’s name on an audit report form); Schoeffler,
      47 M.S.P.R. at 83-85 (finding that an administrative judge properly affirmed two
      charges of falsification based on inaccuracies in (1) a time and attendance report
      and (2) a travel document). Thus, the fact that the appellant’s alleged misconduct
      here involved altering a document does not exempt the agency from the
      requirement of proving private material gain.       To the extent the agency is
      attempting to recharacterize its charge, that effort must fail.    See Alvarado v.
      Department of the Air Force, 103 M.S.P.R. 1, ¶ 9 (2006) (finding that the agency
      is required to prove the charge as it is set out in the notice of proposed removal,
      not some other offense that might be sustainable by the facts of the case), aff’d,
      626 F. Supp. 2d 1140 (D.N.M. 2009), aff’d, 490 F. App’x 932 (10th Cir. 2012).
¶10        The agency also disagrees with the administrative judge’s findings that the
      appellant’s misstatements were neither material nor for private material gain.
      PFR File, Tab 1 at 7-14.       We find it unnecessary to consider the parties’
      arguments as to whether the misstatements were material. PFR File, Tab 1 at 7,
      11-14, Tab 3 at 12-17, 22-25. Because we agree with the administrative judge
      that the agency failed to prove that the appellant intended to alter the date for a
      private material gain, we agree with his determination that the agency failed to
      prove the charge.
¶11        While recognizing the appellant provided altered 522As, the administrative
      judge found that the appellant “knew [he would remain on limited duty] whether
                                                                                       7

      or not he changed the dates” and that the agency “agree[d] the medical
      information contained on the reports bearing the altered dates was accurate.” ID
      at 22. The agency disputes these findings. PFR File, Tab 1 at 11-14. As to the
      administrative judge’s findings that the appellant knew he would remain on
      limited duty despite failing to obtain updated 522As, we defer to this fac tual
      determination because it was based on the administrative judge’s demeanor-based
      credibility findings.   See Purifoy v. Department of Veterans Affairs, 838 F.3d
      1367, 1372 (Fed. Cir. 2016) (finding that the Board must afford “special
      deference” to the administrative judge’s findings respecting credibility when she
      “relies expressly or by necessary implication on the demeanor of the witnesses ”)
      (citation omitted).     In particular, the administrative judge found, relying on
      the appellant’s responses to agency OIG agents and his hearing testimony, that
      he knew his restriction would remain the same on any 522A completed on
      January 1 and February 2, 2017, and he would remain on limited duty during this
      period. ID at 5, 16, 22; IAF, Tab 7 at 79; Hearing Transcript (HT) at 20 5, 213-14
      (testimony of the appellant).
¶12         The agency argues that the appellant’s 522As changed over the course of
      his recovery, including his medical restrictions. PFR File, Tab 1 at 13-14; IAF,
      Tab 6 at 140-43, Tab 17 at 17-18. For example, on his December 1, 2016 522A,
      his doctor’s office indicated the appellant could not lift 45 pounds or more, use
      firearms, or engage in “aggressive law enforcement activities.” IAF, Tab 6 at 49.
      As of February 23, 2017, the doctor’s office lifted the first two restri ctions but
      not the third. IAF, Tab 17 at 18. However, this evidence does not show that
      during the approximately 2-month period at issue here, from the beginning of
      January 2017 until the appellant submitted a new 522A on February 23, 2017, any
      changes in his medical restrictions occurred. Thus, we discern no basis to disturb
      the administrative judge’s credibility-based determination that the appellant knew
      his restrictions would be the same during this period.
                                                                                         8

¶13         As to the administrative judge’s finding that the agency shared the
      appellant’s belief that he was entitled to limited duty, despite altering the forms,
      the record does not support the agency’s argument to the contrary. PFR File,
      Tab 1 at 13.    The deciding official and proposing official testified that the
      appellant would have remained eligible for limited duty status during this time
      period even if he had gone to the doctor.        HT at 48 (testimony of deciding
      official), 119-20 (testimony of proposing official). Moreover, the agency allowed
      the appellant to violate their 30-day policy in the past without ramifications. 3 The
      substantive information on the 522As, that the appellant was not cleared to return
      to full activities without restrictions, remained the same throughout the
      appellant’s recovery.   IAF, Tab 6 at 48-49, Tab 17 at 17-21.        Finally, on the
      appellant’s December 2016 522A, which the agency did not allege was altered,
      the appellant’s doctor’s office estimated that his earliest return to full duty would
      be in March of 2017, nine months after the operation. IAF, Tab 6 at 48. Thus,
      the agency’s argument on review does not suggest the administrative judge erred
      in finding that the agency believed the appellant remained eligible for limited
      duties.
¶14         The agency also argues that the appellant’s ability to avoid contacting his
      doctor for 2 months was a private material gain realized by his falsification.
      PFR File, Tab 1 at 14. The administrative judge considered this argument below
      but found that avoiding the hassle of either traveling to the doctor or contacting
      the doctor’s office to obtain a new 522A was so minor and intangible that it could
      not be considered a “material” gain. ID at 23. We agree. The definition of a
      “private material gain” is broad and is not limited to monetary gain.           Boo,

      3
         The appellant submitted a form dated June 30, 2016, and then another dated
      August 23, 2016, which is 24 days beyond the agency’s 30 -day policy. IAF, Tab 6
      at 53, Tab 7 at 12-13, Tab 17 at 26-27. He next submitted a form dated September 30,
      2016, which is 8 days beyond the agency’s 30-day policy. IAF, Tab 6 at 53, Tab 17
      at 30-31. He next submitted a form dated November 1, 2016, which is 2 days beyond
      the agency’s 30-day policy. IAF, Tab 6 at 53, Tab 17 at 30-31.
                                                                                          9

      122 M.S.P.R. 100, ¶ 13. However, intentions such as expediting a process or
      maintaining privacy fall outside the broad definition of “private material gain.”
      Id., ¶ 15 (finding that an appellant’s intent to expedite the airport screening
      process for an individual scheduled to meet with agency officials fell outside the
      broad definition of private material gain); see Bradley v. Veterans Administration,
      900 F.2d 233, 237 (Fed. Cir. 1990) (declining to find that an appellant’s private
      gain of maintaining the privacy of his family life was material). The avoidance of
      calling his medical provider out of laziness is akin to the minor and intangible
      gains discussed in Boo and Bradley. Moreover, neither the agency’s policy nor
      the appellant’s doctor required that he physically visit the doctor’s office to
      obtain a 522A.     HT at 123 (testimony of the proposing official), 222, 239
      (testimony of the appellant); IAF, Tab 7 at 57. What would have been required of
      the appellant is for him to call or email the doctor’s office to produce another
      522A form.
¶15        Further, on September 19, 2016, a member of the agency’s medical staff
      emailed the appellant asking for an update to his medical status by November 19,
      2016. IAF, Tab 16 at 66. At this time, the most recent 522A on file was from
      August 23, 2016. IAF, Tab 6 at 53. Thus, the agency would have allowed the
      appellant to wait until November to update his August 522A form, which would
      have been 58 days beyond the agency’s 30-day policy.
¶16        Thus, the agency has failed to prove that, in the absence of the falsified
      medical forms, the appellant would not have remained on limited duty or
      otherwise been negatively affected by violating the agency’s policy. As such, the
      agency has failed to meet its burden of proving b y preponderant evidence that the
      appellant intended to receive a private material gain by altering the 522A forms.

      Because the agency failed to prove its charge, we decline to consider its
      arguments regarding the penalty.
¶17        The remainder of the agency’s arguments, including a heightened burden
      for law enforcement officers, the appellant’s potential Giglio-impairment, and
                                                                                          10

      that falsifying medical documents is more serious than falsifying other
      documents, all involve the penalty determination. 4 PFR File, Tab 1 at 9, 14-17;
      see O’Lague v. Department of Veterans Affairs, 123 M.S.P.R. 340, ¶ 20 (2016)
      (considering the appellant’s status as a law enforcement officer in determining the
      reasonableness of the penalty), aff’d per curiam, 698 F. App’x 1034 (Fed. Cir.
      2017); Solis v. Department of Justice, 117 M.S.P.R. 458, ¶¶ 9-10 (2012)
      (discussing the agency’s consideration of an appellant’s potential Giglio
      impairment as an aggravating factor in assessing the penalty); Isom v. Defense
      Logistics Agency, 22 M.S.P.R. 79, 82 (1984) (discussing the seriousness of
      falsifying a medical document in assessing the reasonableness of a penalty) , aff’d,
      770 F.2d 181 (Fed. Cir. 1985) (Table). Because we sustain the administrative
      judge’s determination that the agency has failed to meet its burden of proof, we
      need not reach those arguments.

                                            ORDER
¶18         We ORDER the agency to cancel the removal action and to restore the
      appellant effective June 8, 2018. See Kerr v. 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 decision.
¶19         We also ORDER the agency to pay the appellant the correct amount of back
      pay, interest on back pay, and other benefits under the Office of Personnel
      Management’s regulations, no later than 60 calendar days after the date of this
      decision. We ORDER the appellant to cooperate in good faith in the agency’s
      efforts to calculate the amount of back pay, interest, and benefits due, and to
      provide all necessary information the agency requests to help it carry out the
      4
        Under the U.S. Supreme Court’s precedent set forth in Giglio v. United States,
      405 U.S. 150 (1972), investigative agencies must turn over to prosecutors any potential
      impeachment evidence. Solis v. Department of Justice, 117 M.S.P.R. 458, ¶ 4 n.1
      (2012). The prosecutor will then exercise his discretion regarding w hether the
      impeachment evidence must be turned over to the defense, which could jeopardize a
      case in which the “Giglio-impaired” agent is testifying. Id.
                                                                                        11

      Board’s Order. If there is a dispute about the amount of back pay, interest due,
      and/or other benefits, we ORDER the agency to pay the appellant the undisputed
      amount no later than 60 calendar days after the date of this decision.
¶20         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 of the actions it has
      taken 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).
¶21         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 p etition for enforcement
      with the office that issued the initial decision on 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 a gency 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).
¶22         For agencies whose payroll is administered by either the National Finance
      Center of the Department of Agriculture (NFC) or the Defense Finance and
      Accounting Service (DFAS), two lists of the information and documentation
      necessary to process payments and adjustments resulting from a Bo ard decision
      are attached. The agency is ORDERED to timely provide DFAS or NFC with all
      documentation necessary to process payments and adjustments resulting from the
      Board’s decision in accordance with the attached lists so that payment can be
      made within the 60-day period set forth above.

                      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 f orth at Title 5 of
      the United States Code (5 U.S.C.), sections 7701(g), 1221(g), or 1214(g). The
      regulations may be found at 5 C.F.R. §§ 1201.201, 1201.202, and 1201.203. If
                                                                                     12

you believe you meet these requirements, you must file a motion for attorney fees
and costs WITHIN 60 CALENDAR DAYS OF THE DATE OF THIS DECISION.
You must file your motion for attorney fees and costs with the office that issued
the initial decision on your appeal.

                         NOTICE OF APPEAL RIGHTS 5
      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
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).

5
  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.
                                                                                      13

      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. 420 (2017). If you have a representative in this case,
and your representative receives this decision bef ore 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
                                                                                14

race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or a disabling c ondition, 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 respective
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 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
                                                                                     15

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. 6   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:
                               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

6
   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.
                                                                           16

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.
                                 DEFENSE FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING SERVICE
                                           Civilian Pay Operations

                          DFAS BACK PAY CHECKLIST
The following documentation is required by DFAS Civilian Pay to compute and pay back pay
pursuant to 5 CFR § 550.805. Human resources/local payroll offices should use the following
checklist to ensure a request for payment of back pay is complete. Missing documentation may
substantially delay the processing of a back pay award. More information may be found at:
https://wss.apan.org/public/DFASPayroll/Back%20Pay%20Process/Forms/AllItems.aspx.

NOTE: Attorneys’ fees or other non-wage payments (such as damages) are paid by
vendor pay, not DFAS Civilian Pay.

☐ 1) Submit a “SETTLEMENT INQUIRY - Submission” Remedy Ticket. Please identify the
     specific dates of the back pay period within the ticket comments.

Attach the following documentation to the Remedy Ticket, or provide a statement in the ticket
comments as to why the documentation is not applicable:

☐ 2) Settlement agreement, administrative determination, arbitrator award, or order.

☐ 3) Signed and completed “Employee Statement Relative to Back Pay”.

☐ 4) All required SF50s (new, corrected, or canceled). ***Do not process online SF50s
     until notified to do so by DFAS Civilian Pay.***

☐ 5) Certified timecards/corrected timecards. ***Do not process online timecards until
     notified to do so by DFAS Civilian Pay.***

☐ 6) All relevant benefit election forms (e.g. TSP, FEHB, etc.).

☐ 7) Outside earnings documentation. Include record of all amounts earned by the employee
     in a job undertaken during the back pay period to replace federal employment.
     Documentation includes W-2 or 1099 statements, payroll documents/records, etc. Also,
     include record of any unemployment earning statements, workers’ compensation,
     CSRS/FERS retirement annuity payments, refunds of CSRS/FERS employee premiums,
     or severance pay received by the employee upon separation.

Lump Sum Leave Payment Debts: When a separation is later reversed, there is no authority
under 5 U.S.C. § 5551 for the reinstated employee to keep the lump sum annual leave payment
they may have received. The payroll office must collect the debt from the back pay award. The
annual leave will be restored to the employee. Annual leave that exceeds the annual leave
ceiling will be restored to a separate leave account pursuant to 5 CFR § 550.805(g).
NATIONAL FINANCE CENTER CHECKLIST FOR BACK PAY CASES
Below is the information/documentation required by National Finance Center to process
payments/adjustments agreed on in Back Pay Cases (settlements, restorations) or as ordered by
the Merit Systems Protection Board, EEOC, and courts.
1. Initiate and submit AD-343 (Payroll/Action Request) with clear and concise information
   describing what to do in accordance with decision.
2. The following information must be included on AD-343 for Restoration:
       a.   Employee name and social security number.
       b.   Detailed explanation of request.
       c.   Valid agency accounting.
       d.   Authorized signature (Table 63).
       e.   If interest is to be included.
       f.   Check mailing address.
       g.   Indicate if case is prior to conversion. Computations must be attached.
       h.   Indicate the amount of Severance and Lump Sum Annual Leave Payment to be
            collected (if applicable).
Attachments to AD-343
1. Provide pay entitlement to include Overtime, Night Differential, Shift Premium, Sunday
   Premium, etc. with number of hours and dates for each entitlement (if applicable).
2. Copies of SF-50s (Personnel Actions) or list of salary adjustments/changes and amounts.
3. Outside earnings documentation statement from agency.
4. If employee received retirement annuity or unemployment, provide amount and address to
   return monies.
5. Provide forms for FEGLI, FEHBA, or TSP deductions. (if applicable)
6. If employee was unable to work during any or part of the period involved, certification of the
   type of leave to be charged and number of hours.
7. If employee retires at end of Restoration Period, provide hours of Lump Sum Annual Leave
   to be paid.
NOTE: If prior to conversion, agency must attach Computation Worksheet by Pay Period and
required data in 1-7 above.
The following information must be included on AD-343 for Settlement Cases: (Lump Sum
Payment, Correction to Promotion, Wage Grade Increase, FLSA, etc.)
       a. Must provide same data as in 2, a-g above.
       b. Prior to conversion computation must be provided.
       c. Lump Sum amount of Settlement, and if taxable or non-taxable.
If you have any questions or require clarification on the above, please contact NFC’s
Payroll/Personnel Operations at 504-255-4630.