Krzeminski v. United States

13 Cl. Ct. 430, 1987 U.S. Claims LEXIS 180
CourtUnited States Court of Claims
DecidedOctober 2, 1987
DocketNo. 348-86C
StatusPublished
Cited by15 cases

This text of 13 Cl. Ct. 430 (Krzeminski 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
Krzeminski v. United States, 13 Cl. Ct. 430, 1987 U.S. Claims LEXIS 180 (cc 1987).

Opinion

OPINION

BRUGGINK, Judge.

This military pay case is presently before the court on defendant’s motion to dismiss or, in the alternative, for summary judgment and on plaintiff’s cross-motion for partial summary judgment. Upon consideration of the written and oral submissions of the parties and for reasons set out below, defendant’s motion is denied and plaintiff’s motion is granted.

BACKGROUND

The court notes at the outset that this is not the typical military pay case in which the Claims Court is reviewing a decision of a military records correction board. The plaintiff, Michael Krzeminski, was discharged from the Navy on September 20, 1985 by order of the Commander, Naval Military Personnel Command (CNMPC), and did not seek any administrative review of his discharge. Krzeminski challenges his discharge for the first time in this court. Consequently, an issue arises in this case, which is examined in more detail in the Discussion section, as to the scope of the administrative record that must be reviewed by the court in deciding whether the CNMPC decision was proper. The CNMPC based his decision to discharge Krzeminski on a thirty-nine page record.1 Defendant, however, also asks the court to consider a record composed of six volumes, including Krzeminski’s complete military service record.2 Based upon either a review of the limited administrative record before the CNMPC or a review of all of defendant’s submissions, the court concludes that the CNMPC decision to discharge Krzeminski on the ground of dishonorable failure to pay just debts was not supported by substantial evidence.

As will be discussed in more detail subsequently, defendant’s primary argument throughout these proceedings is that plain[433]*433tiff waived all rights to challenge his discharge, both administratively and in this court. As a corollary, defendant therefore challenges plaintiff’s right to submit new evidence and argument to the court. In developing the background facts, the court has relied exclusively on uncontested facts drawn primarily from defendant’s own supplemental materials. The only background facts drawn from plaintiff’s present submissions relate to the waiver issue. The court initially makes two observations about the use of these materials. First, as discussed herein, the court’s acceptance of plaintiff’s factual submissions surrounding the waiver is not necessary to the result of this opinion.3 As also discussed herein, however, it is the court’s view that under these unusual procedural circumstances, it may consider new materials for the purpose of challenging an asserted waiver.4

Plaintiff, Michael M. Krzeminski, began his military career in 1973 by enlisting in the United States Coast Guard, where he remained until he was honorably discharged in May 1977. In July 1977, Krze-minski enlisted in the U.S. Navy, beginning active duty shortly thereafter. On August 25, 1985, the CNMPC ordered plaintiff separated from the naval service with a discharge under other than honorable conditions based on “a pattern of misconduct as exemplified by ... [a]n established pattern of dishonorable failure to pay just debts.”5 On September 20, 1985, after approximate-Iy twelve years of military service, Krze-minski was administratively discharged from the Navy. The events leading up to his discharge are detailed below.

On May 2, 1984, Krzeminski reported for duty to the U.S. Naval Communications Area Master Station (NAYCAMS), Western Pacific, Guam, Marianas Islands. The Navy had trained Krzeminski to serve as a radioman, sending him to various courses of instruction to learn that specialty. By June 1984, plaintiff had advanced to the rank of Radioman First Class. At NAV-CAMS, Krzeminski was initially assigned the duty of supervisor of the watch and was responsible for the proper and efficient operation of the Naval Telecommunications Center, Nimitz Hill, and the Message Distribution Center, Apra Harbor; he supervised nine other enlisted personnel in this capacity. Krzeminski was also responsible for both routine and emergency destruction of classified materials. His first enlisted performance evaluation report at NAV-CAMS, for the period May 19, 1984 to November 22, 1984, was good.6

In November 1984, plaintiff’s financial condition began to deteriorate. Krzemin-ski’s November 1984 financial statement submitted to his command revealed that he was indebted to twelve creditors, including the U.S. Government. At that time, excluding the government, the Navy ex[434]*434change, and a credit union, he owed over $17,000.00. Plaintiff’s budget for monthly-expenditures, including his home layaway bill, exceeded his family’s income by over $900.00.7

Krzeminski’s recorded military performance also began to decline significantly beginning in November 1984. His enlisted performance evaluation report for the period November 23,1984 to February 26,1985 declares:

[Krzeminski is an] [a]pathetic and unmotivated petty officer. Disillusionment with [Radioman] rating has resulted in seriously degraded performance, rather than positive effort toward change in rating. Zero adaptability; refuses to accept that he is expected to make honest effort to perform at present rate and rating until able to accomplish change of rating____ Not recommended for retention or advancement.

Based on Krzeminski’s poor performance during this period, his security clearance was withdrawn and he was reassigned to non-radioman duties.8

In late 1984, because of an inability to improve his financial situation, Krzeminski consulted a bankruptcy attorney in Guam. On January 16, 1985, the attorney advised plaintiff not to make any further payments to creditors and to seek protection under the Bankruptcy Code. Krzeminski eventually filed for bankruptcy on April 26, 1985 in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Guam.

In late 1984 and early 1985, defendant became aware of Krzeminski’s severe financial situation through his November 1984 financial statement and letters from various creditors to the NAVCAMS commanding officer complaining that he was in arrears on his debt payments. On both January 25, 1985 and February 25, 1985, Krzeminski received written counselling notices encouraging him to correct his deficiencies in military performance and behavior, including indebtedness. He was informed that assistance was available through the Navy Family Services Center, the Navy Relief Society, his chain of command, his division officer, the chaplain, and other agencies. On both occasions, Krze-minski was warned that he could be processed for an administrative separation under other than honorable conditions if improvements in his performance were not forthcoming.

One of the creditors who had contacted the commanding officer at NAVCAMS was Beneficial Finance Corp. (“Beneficial”). Beneficial had launched an aggressive campaign and succeeded in enlisting the assistance of the Navy in collecting the sums owed. Krzeminski recounts that his division officer repeatedly summoned him to his office for increasingly hostile and threatening sessions. On January 10, 1985, the division officer told Krzeminski to pay these debts, stating, “You will report to me on the 15th and 30th of each month with money orders and I will follow you up to the Post Office to make sure you mail them” to the creditors. See

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13 Cl. Ct. 430, 1987 U.S. Claims LEXIS 180, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/krzeminski-v-united-states-cc-1987.