Filed: Jan. 22, 2016
Latest Update: Mar. 02, 2020
Summary: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION BOARD STEVEN J. HEAPS, DOCKET NUMBER Appellant, SF-0752-15-0278-X-1 v. DEPARTMENT OF DATE: January 22, 2016 TRANSPORTATION, Agency. THIS FINAL ORDER IS NONPRECEDENTIAL * Steven J. Heaps, Apple Valley, California, pro se. Lierre M. Green, Esquire, Los Angeles, California, for the agency. BEFORE Susan Tsui Grundmann, Chairman Mark A. Robbins, Member FINAL ORDER ¶1 On August 7, 2015, the administrative judge issued a compliance initial decision find
Summary: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION BOARD STEVEN J. HEAPS, DOCKET NUMBER Appellant, SF-0752-15-0278-X-1 v. DEPARTMENT OF DATE: January 22, 2016 TRANSPORTATION, Agency. THIS FINAL ORDER IS NONPRECEDENTIAL * Steven J. Heaps, Apple Valley, California, pro se. Lierre M. Green, Esquire, Los Angeles, California, for the agency. BEFORE Susan Tsui Grundmann, Chairman Mark A. Robbins, Member FINAL ORDER ¶1 On August 7, 2015, the administrative judge issued a compliance initial decision findi..
More
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION BOARD
STEVEN J. HEAPS, DOCKET NUMBER
Appellant, SF-0752-15-0278-X-1
v.
DEPARTMENT OF DATE: January 22, 2016
TRANSPORTATION,
Agency.
THIS FINAL ORDER IS NONPRECEDENTIAL *
Steven J. Heaps, Apple Valley, California, pro se.
Lierre M. Green, Esquire, Los Angeles, California, for the agency.
BEFORE
Susan Tsui Grundmann, Chairman
Mark A. Robbins, Member
FINAL ORDER
¶1 On August 7, 2015, the administrative judge issued a compliance initial
decision finding the agency noncompliant with the final order in the underlying
appeal. Heaps v. Department of Transportation, MSPB Docket No. SF-0752-15-
0278-C-1, Compliance File, Tab 11, Compliance Initial Decision (CID). For the
*
A nonprecedential order is one that the Board has determined does not add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 Parties may cite nonprecedential orders,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
reasons discussed below, we now find the agency in compliance and DISMISS the
petition for enforcement. This is the final decision of the Merit Systems
Protection Board in this compliance proceeding. Title 5 of the Code of Federal
Regulations, section 1201.183(c)(1) (5 C.F.R. § 1201.183(c)(1)).
DISCUSSION OF ARGUMENTS AND EVIDENCE ON COMPLIANCE
¶2 On March 23, 2015, the administrative judge issued an initial decision in
MSPB Docket No. SF-0752-15-0278-I-1, dismissing the appellant’s removal
appeal as settled. Heaps v. Department of Transportation, MSPB Docket No.
SF-0752-15-0278-I-1, Initial Appeal File, Tab 13, Initial Decision (ID). The
administrative judge noted that the Board would retain jurisdiction over the
matter for enforcement purposes. ID at 2. The initial decision became final after
neither party petitioned for review.
¶3 On April 27, 2015, the appellant filed a petition for enforcement. He
asserted that the agency was not paying him the salary agreed upon in the
settlement agreement. CID at 2. The agency responded that the settlement
should be voided “by reason of mutual mistake.”
Id.
¶4 On August 7, 2015, the administrative judge issued a compliance initial
decision finding the agency in noncompliance with the settlement agreement.
CID at 10. The administrative judge ordered the agency to adjust the appellant’s
annual salary to $67,388.00 and to pay him appropriate back pay, interest, and
benefits. CID at 11.
¶5 On September 15, 2015, the Board issued an acknowledgement order
instructing the agency to submit evidence of compliance with the initial decision.
Compliance Referral File (CRF), Tab 1 at 3. The Board also advised the
appellant that if he failed to submit a response to the agency’s filing within
20 days, the Board might assume he was satisfied and dismiss his petition for
enforcement.
Id.
3
¶6 On September 30, 2015, the agency filed evidence of purported compliance.
CRF, Tab 2. The appellant did not file a response. Because the agency has filed
evidence of purported compliance and the appellant has not responded, we
assume the appellant is satisfied, find the agency in compliance, and dismiss the
petition for enforcement.
NOTICE TO THE APPELLANT REGARDING
YOUR FURTHER REVIEW RIGHTS
You have the right to request review of this final decision by the U.S.
Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. You must submit your request to the
court at the following address:
United States Court of Appeals
for the Federal Circuit
717 Madison Place, N.W.
Washington, DC 20439
The court must receive your request for review no later than 60 calendar days
after the date of this order. See 5 U.S.C. § 7703(b)(1)(A) (as rev. eff. Dec. 27,
2012). If you choose to file, be very careful to file on time. The court has held
that normally it does not have the authority to waive this statutory deadline and
that filings that do not comply with the deadline must be dismissed. See Pinat v.
Office of Personnel Management,
931 F.2d 1544 (Fed. Cir. 1991).
If you need further information about your right to appeal this decision to
court, you should refer to the Federal law that gives you this right. It is found in
title 5 of the U.S. Code, section 7703 (5 U.S.C. § 7703) (as rev. eff. Dec. 27,
2012). You may read this law as well as other sections of the U.S. Code, at our
website, http://www.mspb.gov/appeals/uscode.htm. Additional information 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, and 11.
4
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 Merit Systems Protection Board neither endorses the services
provided by any attorney nor warrants that any attorney will accept representation
in a given case.
FOR THE BOARD: ______________________________
William D. Spencer
Clerk of the Board
Washington, D.C.