“Confused and in a Fog” or Lack of Candor?
This case shows how trying to hide misconduct can end up compounding an employee’s woes.
Author: Susan McGuire Smith
Too Sick to Work But Well Enough to Go to a Casino
A twenty-year employee of the Postal Service was fired stemming from misuse of the government-issued credit card. See how he made out when he took his case to court.
It was My Attorney’s Fault
Illegal partisan activities triggered an Office of Special Counsel investigation and eventually led to this postal employee’s removal.
Court Concludes Army’s Decision to Deny Purple Heart “Defies Reason”
A Vietnam veteran takes on the Army to try to win a Purple Heart stemming from his combat service. See how he fared.
Two Years Means Two Years
A retired federal employee missed the deadline to elect a survivor annuity for her new husband. She took her case to the appeals court when OPM turned her down. See if she fared any better with the court.
“Good Intentions” Not a Defense
Applying progressive discipline, the IRS ended up firing an employee who dragged his feet every year resulting in late payment of his federal taxes.
Appeals Court Hands Fired DHS Employee His Job Back
Score this recent published decision by the Federal Circuit as a big and clear win for the fired Customs and Border Agent and his legal team. He could not convince the agency, the Administrative Law Judge, or the Merit Systems Protection Board. But that does not matter because he definitely convinced the court that he had been too harshly treated.
Wording of Divorce Decree Trips up Claim for Survivor Benefits
There are plenty of ways to mess up a divorce decree so that a surviving ex-spouse cannot claim a survivor annuity. This recent case is yet another example of what not to do.
Filing Delay Leads to Loss of Federal Death Benefits
Even though a spouse of forty years was entitled to her husband’s federal death benefits, her estate could not claim them when the widow died before she was able to sign the paperwork.
Modified Divorce Ruling Handed Down Before Retirement Must Be Considered In Deciding Survivor Annuity
In yet another case involving the current wife and ex-wife fighting over a federal retiree’s survivor’s annuity, the appeals court finds error in handling by OPM and MSPB and bounces the case back for another round. See why.
