Opinion

Daniel W Colbert v. Department of Transportation

Court: Merit Systems Protection Board
Filed: Jul 10, 2024
Status: Unpublished
Cited by: 0 cases
Authority: More cited than 30.3%

finding that section 7511(a)(1)(C)(i) only covers excepted service individuals under an initial appointment pending conversion to the competitive service, provided that they are not serving a probationary or trial period under such an appointment

How later courts described this case

finding that section 7511(a)(1)(C)(i) only covers excepted service individuals under an initial appointment pending conversion to the competitive service, provided that they are not serving a probationary or trial period under such an appointment

Written by the judges who cited it.

The opinion

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION BOARD

DANIEL W. COLBERT, DOCKET NUMBER

Appellant, PH-0752-19-0359-I-1

DEPARTMENT OF DATE: July 10, 2024

TRANSPORTATION,

Agency.

THIS FINAL ORDER IS NONPRECEDENTIAL 1

Daniel W. Colbert , Naples, Florida, pro se.

Kyle L. Joseph , Esquire, El Segundo, California, for the agency.

BEFORE

Cathy A. Harris, Chairman

Raymond A. Limon, Vice Chairman

Henry J. Kerner, Member*

*Member Kerner did not participate in the adjudication of this appeal.

FINAL ORDER

The appellant has filed a petition for review of the initial decision, which

dismissed his probationary termination appeal for lack of jurisdiction. Generally,

we grant petitions such as this one only in the following circumstances: the

initial decision contains erroneous findings of material fact; the initial decision is

A nonprecedential order is one that the Board has determined does not add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 Parties may cite nonprecedential orders,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).

based on an erroneous interpretation of statute or regulation or the erroneous

application of the law to the facts of the case; the administrative judge’s rulings

during either the course of the appeal or the initial decision were not consistent

with required procedures or involved an abuse of discretion, and the resulting

error affected the outcome of the case; or new and material evidence or legal

argument is available that, despite the petitioner’s due diligence, was not

available when the record closed. Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations,

section 1201.115 (5 C.F.R. § 1201.115). After fully considering the filings in this

appeal, we conclude that the petitioner has not established any basis under section

1201.115 for granting the petition for review. Therefore, we DENY the petition

for review. Except as expressly MODIFIED to clarify the correct jurisdictional

standard for a nonpreference eligible individual in the excepted service, we

AFFIRM the initial decision.

BACKGROUND

The agency appointed the appellant to an Airway Transportation System

Specialist position in the excepted service effective September 28, 2018. Initial

Appeal File (IAF), Tab 7 at 19. On the Standard Form 50 documenting the

appellant’s appointment, the agency stated that the appointment was subject to the

completion of a 1-year trial period. Id. at 20. On June 26, 2019, the agency

terminated the appellant for failure to demonstrate fitness for continued

employment with the Federal service. Id. at 4-6.

The appellant appealed his termination to the Board, claiming that the

termination was for false reasons. IAF, Tab 1 at 2. Without holding the

requested hearing, the administrative judge dismissed the appeal for lack of

jurisdiction. IAF, Tab 10, Initial Decision (ID) at 1. Despite incorrectly advising

the appellant of his jurisdictional requirements in an acknowledgment order,

IAF, Tab 2, the administrative judge provided the appellant with the correct

jurisdictional burden for a preference eligible and a nonpreference eligible in the

excepted service in the initial decision, ID at 3-4. The administrative judge then

found that the appellant failed to nonfrivolously allege that he was an “employee”

with Board appeal rights under chapter 75. ID at 4.

The appellant filed a petition for review, predominantly challenging the

merits of his probationary termination, and the agency has responded. Petition

for Review (PFR) File, Tabs 1, 4.

DISCUSSION OF ARGUMENTS ON REVIEW

The Board’s jurisdiction is limited to those matters over which it has been

given jurisdiction by law, rule, or regulation. Winns v. U.S. Postal Service,

124 M.S.P.R. 113, ¶ 7 (2017), aff’d sub nom. Williams v. Merit Systems

Protection Board, 892 F.3d 1156 (Fed. Cir. 2018). The appellant bears the

burden of proving Board jurisdiction by a preponderance of the evidence. Tolbert

v. Small Business Administration, 104 M.S.P.R. 418, ¶ 6, aff’d, 245 F. App’x 964

(Fed. Cir. 2007); 5 C.F.R. § 1201.56(b)(2)(i)(A). However, if an appellant makes

a nonfrivolous allegation that the Board has jurisdiction, he is entitled to a

hearing on the jurisdictional question. 2 Tolbert, 104 M.S.P.R. 418, ¶ 7.

Only an “employee,” as defined under 5 U.S.C. chapter 75, subchapter II,

can appeal to the Board from an adverse action such as a termination.

Ramirez-Evans v. Department of Veterans Affairs, 113 M.S.P.R. 297, ¶ 9 (2010);

see 5 U.S.C. §§ 7511(a)(1), 7512(1), 7513(d). A nonpreference eligible

individual 3 in the excepted service is an “employee” within the meaning of

5 U.S.C. § 7511 only if one of the following is true: (1) he is not serving a

probationary or trial period under an initial appointment pending conversion to

the competitive service; or (2) he has completed 2 years of current continuous

A nonfrivolous allegation is an assertion that, if proven, could establish the matter at

issue. 5 C.F.R. § 1201.4(s). An allegation generally will be considered nonfrivolous

when, under oath or penalty of perjury, an individual makes an allegation that is more

than conclusory, is plausible on its face, and is material to the legal issues in the appeal.

Id.

The appellant has not alleged that he is preference eligible.

service in the same or similar positions in an Executive agency under other than a

temporary appointment limited to 2 years or less. 5 U.S.C § 7511(a)(1)(C)(i) -(ii);

Ramirez-Evans, 113 M.S.P.R. 297, ¶ 9.

The administrative judge found that the appellant was not an “employee”

pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 7511(a)(1)(C)(i). ID at 4. The appellant has not

challenged this finding on review and we agree with the administrative judge.

Section 7511(a)(1)(C)(i) only applies to individuals serving under an initial

appointment pending conversion to the competitive service, and there is no

indication that the appellant was serving in that type of appointment. See

Ramirez-Evans, 113 M.S.P.R. 297, ¶ 9; see also Forest v. Merit Systems

Protection Board, 47 F.3d 409, 411-12 (Fed. Cir. 1995) (finding that section

7511(a)(1)(C)(i) only covers excepted service individuals under an initial

appointment pending conversion to the competitive service, provided that they are

not serving a probationary or trial period under such an appointment).

The administrative judge also correctly identified the standard set forth in

5 U.S.C. § 7511(a)(1)(C)(ii) in the initial decision. ID at 3. Under this section, a

nonpreference eligible individual in the excepted service is an employee if he has

completed 2 years of current continuous service in the same or similar positions

in an Executive agency under other than a temporary appointment limited to

2 years or less. Ramirez-Evans, 113 M.S.P.R. 297, ¶ 9. The administrative judge

here determined, however, that as an individual in the excepted service, the

appellant was required to prove that he had completed 1 year of current

continuous service in the same or similar positions in an Executive agency under

other than a temporary appointment limited to 1 year or less, and he did not do so.

ID at 3. The administrative judge’s analysis appears to combine the language in

5 U.S.C. § 7511(a)(1)(B) for a preference eligible individual and 5 U.S.C.

§ 7511(a)(1)(C) for a nonpreference eligible individual. This analysis was

therefore erroneous. This error was harmless, however, as the appellant received

the correct jurisdictional notice concerning nonpreference eligible individuals in

the excepted service, and as set forth below, he failed to allege that he is an

“employee” under section 7511(a)(1)(C)(ii). ID at 3; see Easterling v.

U.S. Postal Service, 110 M.S.P.R. 41, ¶ 11 (2008) (finding the failure to provide

an appellant with proper jurisdictional notice can be cured if the initial decision

puts the appellant on notice of what he must do to establish jurisdiction); Panter

v. Department of the Air Force, 22 M.S.P.R. 281, 282 (1984) (finding that an

adjudicatory error which is not prejudicial to a party’s substantive rights provides

no basis for reversing the initial decision). We therefore modify the initial

decision to apply the correct standard for nonpreference eligible individuals in the

excepted service.

In particular, it is undisputed that the appellant here had fewer than 2 years

of Federal service to his credit. IAF, Tab 1 at 1; PFR File, Tab 1 at 13. Thus, the

appellant does not satisfy section 7511(a)(1)(C)(ii). Accordingly, the appellant

has failed to nonfrivolously allege that he is an “employee” who may appeal his

termination to the Board under 5 U.S.C. chapter 75.

The remainder of the appellant’s arguments on review involve the merits of

the agency’s termination. PFR File, Tab 1. Because the appellant has not

established Board jurisdiction over his appeal, we do not address these

arguments.

NOTICE OF APPEAL RIGHTS 4

The initial decision, as supplemented by this Final Order, constitutes the

Board’s final decision in this matter. 5 C.F.R. § 1201.113. You may obtain

review of this final decision. 5 U.S.C. § 7703(a)(1). By statute, the nature of

your claims determines the time limit for seeking such review and the appropriate

forum with which to file. 5 U.S.C. § 7703(b). Although we offer the following

summary of available appeal rights, the Merit Systems Protection Board does not

Since the issuance of the initial decision in this matter, the Board may have updated

the notice of review rights included in final decisions. As indicated in the notice, the

Board cannot advise which option is most appropriate in any matter.

provide legal advice on which option is most appropriate for your situation and

the rights described below do not represent a statement of how courts will rule

regarding which cases fall within their jurisdiction. If you wish to seek review of

this final decision, you should immediately review the law applicable to your

claims and carefully follow all filing time limits and requirements. Failure to file

within the applicable time limit may result in the dismissal of your case by your

chosen forum.

Please read carefully each of the three main possible choices of review

below to decide which one applies to your particular case. If you have questions

about whether a particular forum is the appropriate one to review your case, you

should contact that forum for more information.

(1) Judicial review in general . As a general rule, an appellant seeking

judicial review of a final Board order must file a petition for review with the U.S.

Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which must be received by the court

within 60 calendar days of the date of issuance of this decision. 5 U.S.C.

§ 7703(b)(1)(A).

If you submit a petition for review to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the

Federal Circuit, you must submit your petition to the court at the

following address:

U.S. Court of Appeals

for the Federal Circuit

717 Madison Place, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20439

Additional information about the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal

Circuit 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, 10, and 11.

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

Board neither endorses the services provided by any attorney nor warrants that

any attorney will accept representation in a given case.

(2) Judicial or EEOC review of cases involving a claim of

discrimination . This option applies to you only if you have claimed that you

were affected by an action that is appealable to the Board and that such action

was based, in whole or in part, on unlawful discrimination. If so, you may obtain

judicial review of this decision—including a disposition of your discrimination

claims —by filing a civil action with an appropriate U.S. district court ( not the

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit), within 30 calendar days after you

receive this decision. 5 U.S.C. § 7703(b)(2); see Perry v. Merit Systems

Protection Board, 582 U.S. 420 (2017). If you have a representative in this case,

and your representative receives this decision before you do, then you must file

with the district court no later than 30 calendar days after your representative

receives this decision. If the action involves a claim of discrimination based on

race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or a disabling condition, you may be

entitled to representation by a court-appointed lawyer and to waiver of any

requirement of prepayment of fees, costs, or other security. See 42 U.S.C.

§ 2000e-5(f) and 29 U.S.C. § 794a.

Contact information for U.S. district courts can be found at their respective

websites, which can be accessed through the link below:

http://www.uscourts.gov/Court_Locator/CourtWebsites.aspx .

Alternatively, you may request review by the Equal Employment

Opportunity Commission (EEOC) of your discrimination claims only, excluding

all other issues . 5 U.S.C. § 7702(b)(1). You must file any such request with the

EEOC’s Office of Federal Operations within 30 calendar days after you receive

this decision. 5 U.S.C. § 7702(b)(1). If you have a representative in this case,

and your representative receives this decision before you do, then you must file

with the EEOC no later than 30 calendar days after your representative receives

this decision.

If you submit a request for review to the EEOC by regular U.S. mail, the

address of the EEOC is:

Office of Federal Operations

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

P.O. Box 77960

Washington, D.C. 20013

If you submit a request for review to the EEOC via commercial delivery or

by a method requiring a signature, it must be addressed to:

Office of Federal Operations

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

131 M Street, N.E.

Suite 5SW12G

Washington, D.C. 20507

(3) Judicial review pursuant to the Whistleblower Protection

Enhancement Act of 2012 . This option applies to you only if you have raised

claims of reprisal for whistleblowing disclosures under 5 U.S.C. § 2302(b)(8) or

other protected activities listed in 5 U.S.C. § 2302(b)(9)(A)(i), (B), (C), or (D).

If so, and your judicial petition for review “raises no challenge to the Board’s

disposition of allegations of a prohibited personnel practice described in

section 2302(b) other than practices described in section 2302(b)(8), or 2302(b)

(9)(A)(i), (B), (C), or (D),” then you may file a petition for judicial review either

with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit or any court of appeals of

competent jurisdiction. 5 The court of appeals must receive your petition for

The original statutory provision that provided for judicial review of certain

whistleblower claims by any court of appeals of competent jurisdiction expired on

December 27, 2017. The All Circuit Review Act, signed into law by the President on

July 7, 2018, permanently allows appellants to file petitions for judicial review of

MSPB decisions in certain whistleblower reprisal cases with the U.S. Court of Appeals

for the Federal Circuit or any other circuit court of appeals of competent jurisdiction.

The All Circuit Review Act is retroactive to November 26, 2017. Pub. L. No. 115-195,

review within 60 days of the date of issuance of this decision. 5 U.S.C.

§ 7703(b)(1)(B).

If you submit a petition for judicial review to the U.S. Court of Appeals for

the Federal Circuit, you must submit your petition to the court at the