Benton v. United States

6 Cl. Ct. 781, 1984 U.S. Claims LEXIS 1246
CourtUnited States Court of Claims
DecidedDecember 3, 1984
DocketNo. 304-83C
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 6 Cl. Ct. 781 (Benton v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Court of Claims primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Benton v. United States, 6 Cl. Ct. 781, 1984 U.S. Claims LEXIS 1246 (cc 1984).

Opinion

OPINION

LYDON, Judge.

This civilian pay case comes before the court on defendant’s motion for summary judgment and plaintiff’s opposition thereto. The questions at issue arise from the decision of the Federal Employee Appeals Authority (FEAA) affirming the decision of the Department of the Air Force, 302d Special Operations Squadron, Air Force Reserves, Luke Air Force Base, Arizona (AFRES) which removed plaintiff from his position as Flight Instructor (Helicopter) (Air Reserve Technician), effective November 16, 1977. The critical issue, as framed by the parties in this case, is whether plaintiff’s request for disqualification from aviation service was voluntary or the result of improper agency action. After due consideration of the briefs of the parties, and following oral argument, the court concludes that defendant’s motion for summary judgment should be granted.

I.

By letter of notification dated July 28, 1977, plaintiff was directed to appear before the Flying Evaluation Board (FEB) which was to convene the following month. The FEB was to consider evidence concerning plaintiff’s professional qualifications as a pilot, which had come under question. This notice advised plaintiff of his rights, including his right to counsel and his right, as per AFR 35-13, ¶ 2-116(3), to submit an application for voluntary disqualification from aviation service in lieu of FEB action. The notice also included a copy of AFR 35-13 for plaintiff’s information and use. It is undisputed that this notice complied with all procedural requirements. Prior to receipt of this notice, plaintiff had submitted a number of applications for employment elsewhere since he had been thinking about leaving his present position.

After receipt of this notice on August 1, 1977, plaintiff responded to the Recorder of the FEB, then Major (presently Lt. Colonel) Robert A. Miranda (Miranda) that he had received the notice and that he would appear before the FEB. He requested that the hearing be delayed one week until August 31, 1977, for preparation purposes. In his letter, plaintiff also requested Miranda to arrange for the appearance of ten listed witnesses. In addition, he also stated that he did not need the board’s assistance in acquiring military counsel and he informed the FEB that he did not intend to request voluntary disqualification in lieu of FEB action.

Sometime after receipt of the above-mentioned notification, plaintiff secured the services of Captain Charles R. Stubblefield (Stubblefield), Area Defense Counsel at Luke Air Force Base, as his legal counsel. Plaintiff and his counsel began to develop a defense to the action proposed by the July 28, 1977, notice. During the period leading up to the FEB hearing, plaintiff communicated or met with Miranda several times. In addition to being in charge of FEB administrative duties, Miranda was also charged with the responsibility of becoming familiar with all aspects of any proposed FEB action. See AFR 35-13, 11 3-45(a)(2) (1976).

During the period leading up to the FEB hearing, plaintiff was fully aware of his [784]*784option to submit a voluntary disqualification. On August 30,1977, plaintiff, and his counsel met with Miranda to discuss the ease and plaintiffs alternatives. At this meeting plaintiff testified that Miranda explained the pros and cons of submitting a voluntary disqualification or appearing before the FEB. Plaintiff also testified that Miranda never suggested that he sign such a voluntary disqualification. During the discussion of voluntary disqualification, Miranda explained the ramifications of submitting a voluntary disqualification which included loss of plaintiffs Air Reserve Technician position. Miranda advised plaintiff that if he submitted a voluntary disqualification, the AFRES would do all it could to assist plaintiff in finding another non-flying government position.

Plaintiffs attorney was aware that Miranda had no authority to bind the Air Force to an obligation to find plaintiff a new position. However, plaintiffs counsel, based on his client’s dissatisfaction with his present job, and Miranda’s offer of assistance in locating another job, recommended that plaintiff submit a voluntary disqualification in lieu of FEB action. Plaintiff now seeks to impugn the competency of his counsel for recommending such a course of action. There is absolutely no basis in the record or elsewhere for the assertion by plaintiff that his counsel was inadequate.1 Following consideration of his options and the recommendations of his counsel, plaintiff decided, on or about August 30, 1977, to submit a voluntary disqualification request. In this request, plaintiff stated in pertinent part:

f. Reasons for requesting disqualification are: I am submitting this application for voluntary disqualification for Aviation Service in lieu of Flying Evaluation Board action. I recognize that I have encountered difficulties during the last two and one-half years and that it would be in the best interests of the unit to submit this application. However, at no time have I ever knowingly violated any safety regulation. Family considerations and former health problems have influenced this decision. Attached are letters and statements referencing my rated career.

Plaintiff’s request for disqualification was reviewed by higher authority at Air Force headquarters located at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. Final approval was given to plaintiff’s request on September 27, 1977. Notice of plaintiff’s proposed removal from the flying instructor position dated October 14,1977, was thereafter sent to plaintiff. Removal was based on the fact that such a request for voluntary disqualification extinguishes aviation status which was a requirement for plaintiff’s flying instructor position. Plaintiff has never disputed the fact that loss of that qualification mandates removal from his position. Plaintiff’s removal was to be effective November 16, 1977.

On November 2, 1977, 35 days after plaintiff’s request for disqualification was approved, plaintiff timely filed his response to the October 14,1977, Notice of Proposed Action to remove him from his position. Plaintiff requested that his August 30, 1977, application be withdrawn on the grounds that his request for disqualification from aviation service had been made involuntarily and was the product of misrepresentation by AFRES.

In a letter dated November 11, 1977, Lt. Colonel Peter T. Pomonis (Pomonis) advised plaintiff, after consideration of the [785]*785October 14, 1977, Notice of Proposed Action and plaintiff’s November 2, 1977, reply thereto, that he felt the evidence concerning his voluntary disqualification request warranted plaintiff’s removal to promote the efficiency of the service. In this letter Pomonis also advised plaintiff of his right to appeal this decision to the Civil Service Commission. On November 16,1977, plaintiff received Notification of Personnel Action, effective November 16, 1977, removing him from his position as Flight Instructor. The record indicates that plaintiff was reemployed by the Air Force as a Training Technician at Reese Air Force Base in Texas, on October 10, 1978, and was thereafter continuously employed by the Air Force as of early 1984.

Plaintiff filed an appeal of the November 16, 1977 removal action with the United States Civil Service Commission, Federal Employee Appeals Authority (FEAA). Plaintiff alleged that his application for voluntary disqualification from aviation service was submitted under duress and was not voluntary.

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6 Cl. Ct. 781, 1984 U.S. Claims LEXIS 1246, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/benton-v-united-states-cc-1984.