One Employee, Multiple Appeals, Different Results

Multiple appeal procedures can muddle a case. In this instance, a federal employee who took leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act to care for a terminally ill husband took the leave under false pretenses. But an EEOC ruling on the employee’s harassment case complicates the issue. A federal court send the case back to the MSPB to “resolve inconsistencies, if any.”

Suing Over Suggestions

An employee of the Social Security Administration, described in a court’s opinion as “an energetic federal employee who has previously received awards for other suggestions that were adopted by the SSA…”, has gone to court to get more money. He received awards of $1300 and $24,350 and the agency recommended a 3rd award of more than $32,000 which was rejected by OPM. The court did not mind second-guessing OPM and SSA on their handling of the suggestion process but declined to make its own determination on award amounts.

Federal Circuit to MSPB: Take the Case

The Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has issued a precedential decision that overturns an MSPB ruling. The court found that an indefinite suspension issued as a result of criminal charges and the failure to restore a federal employee to duty following an acquittal were two different matters for appeal. The case was remanded back to the MSPB.