Court Opinion

ID: 9478515
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 06:51:07.756902+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:46:28.451921
License: Public Domain

NIES, Circuit Judge,
dissenting in part.
I would reverse on all charges. Three years after the fact, the agency charged Grafton with a failure to follow required property control procedures. In my view, the AJ erred in sustaining this charge where the agency proved only that Grafton did not follow correct procedures. To provide a basis for disciplinary action in itself, the charge necessarily includes an element of wrongful intent or culpability. Cf. Naekel v. Department of Transp., 782 F.2d 975, 978 (Fed.Cir.1986) (wrongful intent is element of charge of “falsification” of information on employment application). If there is proof only that the procedures were violated, such violation might be relevant to a charge of unsatisfactory or unacceptable performance; but poor performance is not a basis alleged here for removal. To hold that violation of a regulation concerning internal procedures on keeping track of property is ipso facto a ground for removal or other disciplinary action would subvert the safeguards of Chapters 43 and 75 respecting performance-based disciplinary action. See Lovshin v. Department of the Navy, 767 F.2d 826, 841 (Fed.Cir.1985), cert. denied, 475 U.S. 1111, 106 S.Ct. 1523, 89 L.Ed.2d 921 (1986). Because there is no evidence of Grafton’s wrongful intent or even a suggestion why it would be to Grafton’s advantage to deliberately fail to list the property on the forms, it can only be concluded that his failure was at most a negligent omission. Accordingly, the charge is not supported by substantial evidence.
Since I agree with the majority that the other charges were not established, I would reverse the removal action and remand for the board to direct appropriate remedial action.