Case: Murrell Douglas Howell v. The United States
Abbreviation: Howell v. United States
Decision Date: 1982-03-12
Docket Number: No. 668-81C
Citation: 230 Ct. Cl. 816
Volume: 230
Reporter: United States Court of Claims Reports
Court: United States Court of Claims
Jurisdiction: United States
Parties: Murrell Douglas Howell v. The United States
Judges: Before Kashiwa, Bennett and Smith, Judges.
Pages: 816–817

Head Matter:
No. 668-81C.
March 12, 1982
Murrell Douglas Howell v. The United States
Harvey C. Markley, attorney of record, for plaintiff.
Efrain Rivera, with whom was Assistant Attorney General J. Paul McGrath, for defendant.
Before Kashiwa, Bennett and Smith, Judges.

Opinion:
per curiam:
Defendant has moved to dismiss the petition in this case which claims back pay for a military promotion not received. Assuming the accuracy of plaintiffs allegation that he was discriminated against and unfairly treated in this matter, he has nevertheless not stated a claim within the jurisdiction of this court to grant relief. The court has absolutely no authority to promote or to require the promotion of military personnel, absent proof of a legal right to promotion, or to grant back pay predicated on such a promotion. We have so ruled many times. See our recent order in Knightly v. United States, 227 Ct. Cl. 767(1981), which collects significant precedents. Plaintiff has not responded to defendant's motion which was filed January 15, 1982, and the time in which to do so under the rules of the court has now expired.
it is therefore ordered, without oral argument, that defendant's motion to dismiss is granted. The petition is dismissed.
Plaintiffs motion for reconsideration was denied May 25, 1982.