London v. United States

159 Ct. Cl. 398, 1962 U.S. Ct. Cl. LEXIS 158, 1962 WL 9260
CourtUnited States Court of Claims
DecidedDecember 5, 1962
DocketNo. 151-60
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 159 Ct. Cl. 398 (London 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
London v. United States, 159 Ct. Cl. 398, 1962 U.S. Ct. Cl. LEXIS 158, 1962 WL 9260 (cc 1962).

Opinion

Laramore, Judge,

delivered the opinion of the court:

In this case, plaintiff seeks recovery of back pay as the result of a suspension and removal from Government employment, where such removal action was reversed and an offered restoration was declined.

Plaintiff initially seemed to allege violation of his rights as a veteran. However, the facts show plaintiff to be a non-veteran, and plaintiff has apparently abandoned any argument as to entitlement as such.

Plaintiff also on brief and in oral argument makes no claim to entitlement under the Lloyd-LaFollette Act (5 U.S.C. 652). Also, in oral argument plaintiff has abandoned any claim for pay during the period when he was on voluntary leave.

The parties have agreed that the present case is submitted on the question of liability only. Thus, plaintiff’s present claim is based on either a violation of the provisions of the 1950 Security Act, 64 Stat. 476, or on general equitable grounds under the doctrine of Thomas v. United States, 153 Ct. Cl. 399; 289 F. 2d 948.

The facts are these: Plaintiff, a non-veteran, was employed by the Alaska District of the Corps of Engineers in an excepted position on July 6, 1950, and was thereafter continuously employed as either an engineer or construction inspector until his dismissal.

At the time plaintiff submitted his application for employment he also submitted a Standard Form 57 which contained untrue information; i.e., in answer to a question, “Since your 16th birthday, have you ever been arrested, indicted, * * he answered, “No”. Shortly thereafter, the Security Officer of the Corps of Engineers obtained information that plaintiff had been arrested while living in Hawaii. However, the usual and customary practice of communicating this information to the personnel officer for a determination as to his suitability for retention was not followed.

[400]*400In about April of 1954 the personnel officer of the Alaska District, Corps of Engineers, reviewed the files and discovered information that plaintiff had been arrested. A conference was had with plaintiff wherein plaintiff admitted the fact of his arrest.

Since the information concerning plaintiff’s arrest had been held for several years, and in view of plaintiff’s good employment record, it was concluded that no dismissal action would be taken. Instead, it was decided that plaintiff would be afforded an opportunity to correct his Form 57 and that he would be retained in service, but that his security clearance would be withdrawn. As a result, it was necessary to transfer him to a non-sensitive position (GS-7) which did not require a security clearance, since all positions in his grade (GS-9), which plaintiff was qualified to fill, were sensitive positions. The situation was explained to plaintiff and he acquiesced in the proposed disposition of the matter.

The following year, in 1955, most of the excepted positions in the Alaska District, and the persons occupying such positions, were blanketed into the competitive civil service, but plaintiff and some 20 other employees were retained in “Status Quo”. The reason given relating to plaintiff was that plaintiff was not blanketed in because of the derogatory information heretofore mentioned.1

In 1955 the Alaska District initiated an investigation to verify the data furnished by plaintiff in his corrected Form 57. During the course of this investigation, information was obtained which led the District to believe that plaintiff had been arrested on two other occasions, which arrests were not mentioned in plaintiff’s corrected Form. On May 7, 1956, plaintiff was, therefore, served with a notice of proposed removal for “willful action in deliberate falsification of records, * * This action was pursuant to paragraph 4-2, section 4, of Civilian Personnel Regulations S 1.4 (1 August 1955).

[401]*401Plaintiff replied to the letter of proposed removal and denied that such arrests had taken place. As a result, the notice of removal was extended pending further investigation. Plaintiff was informed that he could work or elect to take annual leave or leave without pay for all or any part of this period. Plaintiff continued to work until September, at which time he elected to take leave during the pendency of the proceedings. Accordingly, plaintiff began taking his accumulated annual leave on September 26, 1956. At about that time, the plaintiff moved with his family from Alaska to Seattle, Washington. Plaintiff paid his own traveling expenses, but the Corps of Engineers defrayed the cost of moving plaintiff’s family and household effects to Seattle. Thereafter, upon the expiration of his annual leave, plaintiff requested several times, and was granted, leave without pay. The investigation of plaintiff was completed, and by letter dated August 20, 1957, plaintiff was served with a second notice of proposed removal on the ground of failing to disclose two arrests after being given an opportunity to submit a corrected form.

Plaintiff, on August 27, 1957, having returned to Alaska, wrote the District Engineer stating a desire to return to duty, and plaintiff did in fact return to duty on August 27, 1957.

Plaintiff replied to the second notice of proposed removal and requested a hearing.

On or about September 20,1957, plaintiff was served with a notice of decision to remove him effective October 2, 1957. This notice advised him of his right to request a review of the action under the grievance procedures within 10 days after the effective date of the action.

Plaintiff left Alaska in late September or early October of 1957, his travel expenses being paid by the Corps of Engineers.

On October 5, 1957, plaintiff sought a review by a grievance committee, this being the type of hearing provided for under the pertinent civilian personnel regulations governing removal based on alleged delinquency or misconduct.

A grievance hearing was held at Anchorage, Alaska, on November 18,19, and 20,1957. Plaintiff received notice of [402]*402the hearing but did not attend. The apparent reason was that plaintiff requested the Corps of Engineers to provide transportation for him to Anchorage, but the agency refused to do so, there being no authority shown for such payment.

The Grievance Committee heard testimony of various witnesses and inquired into plaintiff’s entire work record. The Grievance Committee recommended to the District Engineer that the removal action be sustained, and the removal was sustained.

Plaintiff appealed this decision to the Division Engineer and subsequent events led to a reversal of the removal action, it being determined that he had not been twice arrested as previously determined. As the result of the aforementioned reversal, plaintiff’s restoration was ordered and plaintiff was so advised.

Thereafter, the District Engineer’s Office wrote plaintiff, as follows:

1. Reference letter from the Division Engineer, North Pacific Division, stating that your removal was not sustained and that action be taken for your restoration.
2. You previously occupied a Construction Inspector (AP), GS-1930-7 position in the Construction Division. Due to a reorganization all inspectors are now assigned to the Project and Resident Engineer Offices.

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Related

Greenway v. United States
163 Ct. Cl. 72 (Court of Claims, 1963)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
159 Ct. Cl. 398, 1962 U.S. Ct. Cl. LEXIS 158, 1962 WL 9260, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/london-v-united-states-cc-1962.