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"Drill Here, Drill Now"
"Drill here, drill now" has become a political hot topic as gas prices have been soaring. One argument against drilling: The oil companies are not even drilling with existing leases. A decision from a federal appeals court finds that the government reneged on off-shore leases off the California coast and kept the companies from exploring and tapping off-shore resources. The government has been ordered to pay more than $1.1 billion to the leaseholders.

Posted: August 27, 2008 | Full Story | Discuss this Article

Personal Expenses and Canceled Leave
If an agency cancels an employee's leave that had been approved, should the agency be liable for the employee's expenses? An agency and a union agreed to such a provision but it was disapproved by by the agency as being outside the agency's duty to bargain. A federal court has agreed with that position.

Posted: August 22, 2008 | Full Story | Discuss this Article

Appeal of "Patently Unfair" Job Requirement is a Loser in Court
An Air Force Air Traffic Control Specialist was fired for not maintaining a certification required by the agency. A court upholds the agency's right to set requirements, despite the former employee's assertion that the requirement was "patently unfair."

Posted: August 15, 2008 | Full Story | Discuss this Article

Administrative Remedies, Tort Claims and the Privacy Act
A federal court has handed another defeat to Joseph and Valerie Plame Wilson in their efforts to receive damages from various high-level officials, including Vice President Cheney.

Posted: August 12, 2008 | Full Story | Discuss this Article

Employee Gets Another Appeal Despite "Last Chance" Agreement
A federal employee who was found to be "rude and obnoxious" ended up being fired as the incident occurred after he had already signed a "last chance" agreement with the agency. The employee waived his appeal rights with the agreement but a federal court sends the case back to the MSPB anyway.

Posted: August 8, 2008 | Full Story | Discuss this Article

Defining "Fired" From Any Job
An Air Force employee who was fired for giving false information on her background investigation questionnaire contended she had answered correctly as she understood she was only to report being fired from a federal job--not the times she was fired by a private sector employer. After review by a court, she remains fired from the Air Force job.

Posted: August 5, 2008 | Full Story | Discuss this Article

Tough Dilemma for Employee Does Not Provide Basis for Appeal
The Merit Systems Protection Board says it does not have jurisdiction over the appeal from a VA employee who was going to be removed when it was discovered he did not have the necessary credentials for the job. The employee agreed to a lower graded job and then filed an appeal. A court decision upholds the MSPB.

Posted: July 29, 2008 | Full Story | Discuss this Article

Firing an HR Specialist With 30 Years of Federal Service
A personnel specialist with 30 years of federal service argued that his long employment history and a recent mid-term evaluation should have been considered in a decision to remove him from federal service. But, says a federal court, the only performance that is relevant in this case is his performance during a 60-day evaluation period. His removal stands.

Posted: July 24, 2008 | Full Story | Discuss this Article

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