That Question Was Really Hard…But Debarment from Federal Employment Stands Anyway
A man who lied on a federal questionnaire found himself ineligible for a position and debarred from being appointed to a federal job.
Court Cases
Read summaries of court cases and decisions that impact federal employees and retirees.
Uncle Sam Steps Aside and Lawsuit by One Fed Against Two Others Moves Forward
DOJ’s refusal to certify that federal employees were acting within the scope of their employment has left two federal employees facing a lawsuit charging them with various torts.
Certainly Bad Law and Maybe Conflicts of Interest at MSPB
The MSPB reversed 30 years of case law to grant employees who should not have a Federal job in the first place the same appeal rights as those who have earned them.
Passing Along Problem From One Agency to Another
USDA eventually found that an HR assistant had worked out a settlement with a previous federal employer to undo her removal by that agency. Her new employer also fired her.
Former IG Goes to Court to Try to Save His Job
An agency Inspector General, appointed by President George W. Bush and fired by President Obama, was recently handed a defeat in his attempt to overturn his firing.
The “I Used to Live in Italy” Defense Doesn’t Hold Up
A federal employee said he had lived in Italy for 10 years and the culture was more “touchy/feely” after he was in trouble for unwanted physical contact with women. He rejected a “last chance agreement” with his agency as “too onerous.” He is now a former federal employee after a recent court decision.
No Federal Survivor Annuity After 35 Years of Marriage
After some thirty-five years of marriage, a woman filed for divorce. Before the divorce was finalized, her husband retired from the Army. He elected a survivor’s annuity for his spouse even though they were in the process of getting a divorce. When the ex wife filed paperwork with OPM to receive her survivor annuity after her former husband died, the agency turned her down and the court upholds the ruling to deny her the annuity.
Circuit Court Grants Federal Employee Right to File Action Against Agencies for Claims Lost at Agency Level
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit recently changed the way federal employees and agencies may approach partial relief in future discrimination claims.
Federal Employee Death Benefits: The Daughter is Not Her Mother’s Spouse
Here’s a rather bizarre case revolving around who should be paid death benefits for a federal employee whose husband was found to have been responsible for her death.
Removal of Air Force Nurse Upheld Despite “Discomfort With Harshness” of the Penalty
In an Air Force case, a registered nurse is fired and stays fired despite the court’s “discomfort with the harshness” of the removal penalty.
