Court Opinion

ID: 9373413
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-02-22 16:04:51.291525+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:16:42.070961
License: Public Domain

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
                        MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION BOARD

     ABIGAIL L. PADILLA,                             DOCKET NUMBER
                    Appellant,                       DE-3443-17-0346-I-1

                  v.

     DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY,                     DATE: September 16, 2022
                 Agency.

             THIS FINAL ORDER IS NONPRECEDENTIAL 1

           Abigail L. Padilla, Denver, Colorado, pro se.

           Emily Urban, Esquire, San Francisco, California, 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 initial decision, which
     dismissed this nonselection appeal for lack of jurisdiction. 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

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        A nonprecedential order is one that the Board has determined does not add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 Parties may cite nonprecedential orders,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

     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 f or review. Except as
     expressly MODIFIED by this Final Order to DISMISS the appeal without
     prejudice to the filing of a new individual right of action (IRA) appeal, we
     AFFIRM the initial decision.

                                         BACKGROUND
¶2         The appellant has appealed her nonselection for the position of Statistician,
     GS-1530-09. Initial Appeal File (IAF), Tab 1. She received notice by email that
     she had been determined to be eligible for the position based on her responses to
     an online questionnaire during the application process but that she was “not found
     to be among the Best Qualified for the position” and was not referred to the
     selecting official.   Id. at 6-7.    Because it appeared the Board might lack
     jurisdiction over the appeal, the administrative judge issued a jurisdictional notice
     within the acknowledgment order, outlining possible bases for the Board’s
     jurisdiction and ordering the appellant to present relevant evidence and argument
     as to the possible bases for jurisdiction. IAF, Tab 2 at 2-6. The appellant and the
     agency filed timely responses. IAF, Tabs 3, 7. The initial decision followed.
     IAF, Tab 9, Initial Decision (ID).
¶3         The administrative judge found that the appellant failed to nonfrivolously
     allege any basis for the Board’s jurisdiction and issued an initial decision that
                                                                                       3

     dismissed the appeal. ID at 2-5. The administrative judge found the agency’s
     action to be a simple nonselection that did not fall within the Board’s jurisdiction
     over suitability actions. ID at 2-4. He also found that, despite having been given
     notice and an opportunity to respond, the appellant failed to nonfrivolously allege
     any other basis for Board jurisdiction, such as whistleblower retaliation, and to
     the extent she made any jurisdictional allegations at all, they were insufficient to
     meet the nonfrivolous standard. ID at 4-5. The appellant has filed a petition for
     review.   Petition for Review (PFR) File, Tab 1.        The agency has filed an
     opposition to the petition. PFR File, Tab 3.

                                        ANALYSIS
¶4        The administrative judge correctly concluded that the appellant failed to
     nonfrivolously allege the Board’s jurisdiction over this appeal.      The Board’s
     jurisdiction 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 establishing that her
     appeal is within the Board’s jurisdiction. 5 C.F.R. §§ 1201.56(b)(2)(i)(A), .57(b).
     Generally, an appellant is entitled to a hearing on the jurisdictional question if
     she makes a nonfrivolous allegation that the Board has jurisdiction.         Tarr v.
     Department of Veterans Affairs, 115 M.S.P.R. 216, ¶ 13 (2010). “Nonfrivolous
     allegations” of the Board’s jurisdiction are allegations of fact that, if proven,
     could establish that the Board has jurisdiction over the matter at issue. Id.; see
     5 C.F.R. § 1201.4(s).
¶5        Generally, an unsuccessful candidate for a Federal civil service position has
     no right to appeal her nonselection.      Tines v. Department of the Air Force,
     56 M.S.P.R. 90, 93 (1992). “Suitability actions” may be appealed to the Board. 2
     Kazan v. Department of Justice, 112 M.S.P.R. 390, ¶ 6 (2009); 5 C.F.R.

     2
       A “suitability action” is defined as a cancellation of eligibility, a removal, a
     cancellation of reinstatement eligibility, and a debarment. 5 C.F.R. § 731.203(a).
                                                                                          4

     § 731.501(a). Nonselection for a specific position, however, is not a “suitability
     action,” even when it is based on the criteria for making a suitability
     determination set forth in 5 C.F.R. § 731.202.         Rodriguez v. Department of
     Homeland Security, 112 M.S.P.R. 446, ¶ 9 (2009); Kazan, 112 M.S.P.R. 390, ¶ 6;
     5 C.F.R. § 731.203(b).
¶6        The record shows that the agency email dated June 12, 2017, that is the
     basis for this appeal merely informed the appellant that her application had been
     received under Vacancy Announcement No. 16CE2-CAX0064-1530-7T11 and
     that she had been determined to be eligible for a Statistician position at the GS-09
     level based on her responses to an online questionnaire. IAF, Tab 1 at 7. The
     email further stated that, “according to Merit Promotion procedures[, she was] not
     found to be among the Best Qualified for the position . . . and [was] not . . .
     referred to the Selecting Official.” 3       Id.   The appellant has not made a
     nonfrivolous allegation, however, that the agency took any action related to her
     overall eligibility for Federal employment, such as debarment or cancellation of
     eligibility on any existing competitive register, which would bring this appeal
     within the scope of suitability actions. See 5 C.F.R. § 731.203(a). Instead, the
     action was a simple nonselection and does not fall within the Board’s jurisdiction.
     See Kazan, 112 M.S.P.R. 390, ¶ 6; 5 C.F.R. § 731.203(b).
¶7        On review, the appellant argues that the administrative judge failed to
     consider   her   allegations   that   her   nonselection   was   in   retaliation   for
     whistleblowing. PFR File, Tab 1 at 5-6. She argues that the administrative judge
     should have considered documents she submitted for her other appeals that are
     pending before the Board. Id. The appellant, at one point, had four IRA appeals
     before the Board, among them Padilla v. Department of the Treasury, MSPB
     Docket No. DE-0752-15-0483-B-1, and Padilla v. Department of the Treasury,

     3
       The agency found the appellant lacked the requisite year of specialized experience
     at the GS-09 grade level and thus did not qualify for the GS-11 Statistician position.
     IAF, Tab 7 at 19-20.
                                                                                                  5

     MSPB Docket No. DE-1221-16-0081-W-1. 4                   Her jurisdictional submission
     directly referenced these appeals and some of the allegations she made therein.
     IAF, Tab 3 at 4-7.
¶8           Under the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2012, the Board
     has jurisdiction over an IRA appeal if the appellant has exhausted h er
     administrative remedies before the Office of Special Counsel (OSC), and makes
     nonfrivolous allegations that: (1) she made a protected disclosure under 5 U.S.C.
     § 2302(b)(8) or engaged in protected activity under 5 U.S.C. § 2302(b)(9)(A)(i),
     (B), (C), or (D); and (2) the protected disclosure or activity was a contributing
     factor in the agency’s decision to take or fail to take a personnel action as defined
     by 5 U.S.C. § 2302(a). Salerno v. Department of Interior, 123 M.S.P.R. 230, ¶ 5
     (2016).      The Board has recently clarified the substantive requirements of
     exhaustion.       Chambers v. Department of Homeland Security, 2022 MSPB 8,
     ¶¶ 10-11. The requirements are met when an appellant has provided OSC wi th
     sufficient basis to pursue an investigation. The Board’s jurisdiction is limited to
     those issues that have been previously raised with OSC. However, an appellant
     may give a more detailed account of his whistleblowing activities before the
     Board than he did to OSC. An appellant may demonstrate exhaustion through his
     initial OSC complaint, evidence that he amended the original complaint,
     including but not limited to OSC’s determination letter and other letters from
     OSC referencing any amended allegations, and his written responses to OSC
     referencing the amended allegations. An appellant may also establish exhaustion
     through other sufficiently reliable evidence, such as an affidavit or a declaration
     attesting that he raised with OSC the substance of the facts in the Board
     appeal. Id.
¶9           Even if we were to consider her submissions in her other appeals, the
     appellant has not shown that she exhausted her administrative remedies before

     4
         The Board has issued separate decisions on the petitions for review in those matters .
                                                                                            6

      OSC regarding the nonselection at issue. Her pleadings do not include a copy or
      description of any complaint she made to OSC after she received the June 12,
      2017 email informing her that she had not been selected for the Statistician
      position, and, as of her initial pleading, she had not filed such a complaint. IAF,
      Tab 1 at 4. She has not alleged that she has filed a complaint since that time.
      Because she has not shown she exhausted her remedies with OSC, the Board
      cannot exercise jurisdiction over this matter as an IRA appeal. 5 In the event that
      the appellant has filed or intends to file an OSC complaint regarding her
      nonselection, she may file a new IRA appeal based on the nonselection. 6
¶10         Finally, the appellant argues that the administrative judge “seemed to hold
      [her] to a higher standard” and that, as a pro se appellant who was also injured in
      the line of duty, she was unable to plead her case with the s ame precision as an
      attorney. PFR File, Tab 1 at 7. She has not offered any examples from the record
      in support of this allegation, and we were unable to find any.               We have
      considered her pro se status by broadly interpreting her pleadings in reaching our
      decision. See Goodnight v. Office of Personnel Management, 49 M.S.P.R. 184,
      187 (1991) (explaining that, although a pro se appellant may not escape the
      consequences of inadequate representation, she will not be required to plead
      issues with the precision of an attorney in a judicial proceeding).

      5
       Because the Board does not have jurisdiction over this matter as an IRA appeal, we
      deny the appellant’s motion for consequential damages. IAF, Tab 8.
      6
         A new appeal will allow the administrative judge to give the appellant full
      jurisdictional notice regarding IRA appeals, as he did not do so in the acknowledgment
      order. IAF, Tab 2 at 6. However, such an appeal must be timely filed. Under 5 U.S.C.
      § 1214(a)(3), an appellant may file an IRA appeal with the Board once OSC closes its
      investigation into her complaint and no more than 60 days have elapsed since
      notification of the closure was provided to her or 120 days has elapsed since she sought
      corrective action from OSC and she has not been notified by OSC that it shall seek
      corrective action on her behalf.        Wells v. Department of Homeland Security,
      102 M.S.P.R. 36, ¶ 6 (2006).
                                                                                       7

                         NOTICE OF APPEAL RIGHTS 7
      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 appropriat e 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 applica ble 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 choice s 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).

7
  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 t he notice, the
Board cannot advise which option is most appropriate in any matter.
                                                                                       8

      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 rec eives 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
                                                                                  9

discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national o rigin, 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 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
                                                                                     10

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. 8 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 appellant s before the Federal

8
   The original statutory provision that provided for judicial review of certain
whistleblower claims by any court of appeals of competent j urisdiction 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.
                                                                          11

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.