Moehl v. United States

34 Fed. Cl. 682, 1996 U.S. Claims LEXIS 4, 1996 WL 20524
CourtUnited States Court of Federal Claims
DecidedJanuary 19, 1996
DocketNo. 91-1393C
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 34 Fed. Cl. 682 (Moehl v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Court of Federal Claims primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Moehl v. United States, 34 Fed. Cl. 682, 1996 U.S. Claims LEXIS 4, 1996 WL 20524 (uscfc 1996).

Opinion

OPINION

HARKINS, Senior Judge:

In this military pay case, Michael D. Moehl, an enlisted Air Force serviceman, challenges his discharge on April 28,1988, as part of an early release program for strength reduction pursuant to AFR 39-10. Administrative proceedings relative to his claim ex[684]*684tended from November 24, 1987, to June 20, 1990. Judicial proceedings on the claim, which started on October 30, 1990, in the District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Western Division, have involved: the transfer of records which were received on August 28, 1991; a decision on August 30, 1993, on cross-motions for summary judgment, that the Deputy for Air Force Review Boards (AFRB) lacked authority to disapprove recommendations of the Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records (AFBCMR); a judgment on February 1, 1994, for plaintiff of $10,391.20 for pay and allowances, as well as correction of military records to show plaintiff was not discharged on April 28, 1988; and an appeal to the Federal Circuit, which on April 6, 1995, determined that the final action of the Deputy AFRB on June 20, 1990, was within delegated authority.

The Federal Circuit reversed and remanded for further proceedings on the legality of the Deputy AFRB’s action, and whether plaintiffs entitlement to pay and benefits was justiciable. Pursuant to the mandate, a schedule for the parties to provide additional information and briefs that addressed these issues was established by order on June 5, 1995, which authorized an initial filing by each party and a response by each party. Defendant filed an initial statement and brief and a response; plaintiff filed only an initial statement and brief. The time for plaintiff to file a response expired October 17, 1995. Facts

The record in this court contains the administrative record (AR) compiled by the AFBCMR for its April 24, 1990, decision, and additional administrative materials considered by the Deputy AFRB during the period April 24, 1990, to June 20, 1990. All facts material to plaintiffs claim were stipulated in the prior proceedings on defendant’s November 26, 1991, motion, and plaintiffs September 11, 1992, cross-motion for summary judgment. A comprehensive chronology of significant factual events may be found in the August 30, 1993, opinion.1 In the interest of brevity, controlling facts are here identified and summarized; description of facts in detail may be found in the August 30,1993, opinion.

Michael D. Moehl enlisted in the Air Force on July 7, 1972. He served a number of consecutive enlistment periods, the last one beginning on December 20,1984, for a period of 4 years, ending December 19, 1988. He was discharged from the Air Force, with an honorable discharge, on April 28, 1988, as an early release in the Strength Reduction Program (SRP). Plaintiff fell within the program guidelines that required separation of all individuals with certain dates of separation who were ineligible for reenlistment. At the time of his discharge, he was in the grade of technical sergeant serving at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

On November 24,1987, plaintiff was nonse-lected for reenlistment or for retention beyond his current enlistment by his supervisor and unit commander. The supervisor cited erratic and declining performance requiring three counselings, a driving while intoxicated (DWI) offense in Korea, an off-base complaint, a mental health evaluation noting antisocial tendencies, poor work performance, substandard personal appearance, and unprofessional attitude. The unit commander noted his status in the Weight Management Program (WMP). Plaintiff appealed his non-selection and on January 22, 1988, plaintiffs appeal was approved by the base commander, the appeal authority.

On February 11, 1988, plaintiff was nonse-lected for reenlistment by his supervisor and his unit commander a second time. The supervisor repeated the remarks on the November 24, 1987, forms, and added “On 29 Jan 88, he was flagrantly disrespectful to another Major in the unit. I have contacted Headquarters Squadron Section Commander for appropriate action.” The unit commander included comments on plaintiffs APR history as showing a highly erratic and inconsistent pattern of performance, references to DUI/DWI incidents in 1983, in Virginia, and in 1985 in Korea.

[685]*685On February 12,1988, plaintiff at 0930 was served with AF Form 3070 signed by his unit commander on February 12,1988, giving notice that punishment under Article 15 for violation of Article 89 was under consideration for alleged misconduct. On February 18, 1988, plaintiff signed section 5 of AF Form 3070 and marked the form to show he had consulted a lawyer, that he waived right to demand a court martial and accepted nonjudicial punishment under Article 15, and that a written presentation was attached. Plaintiff was represented by AF Area Defense Counsel. On February 19, 1988, plaintiffs unit commander found plaintiff had committed the offense alleged and imposed as punishment: reduction to grade of Staff Sergeant and ordered to forfeit $100. The reduction in grade was suspended until August 18, 1988, at which time it would be remitted without further action. On February 25, 1988, plaintiffs appeal of the Article 15 punishment was denied by the appellate authority. The AF Form 3070 was signed by plaintiffs unit commander and plaintiff, and the Article 15 proceeding was concluded.

On June 1,1989, the AFBCMR, in a 2 to 1 vote, denied plaintiffs application for correction of his military records. The application had been reviewed by the Air Staff; the Directorate of Personnel Program Management Reinstatement Program (DPMATR), the Social Actions Operations Division (DPMYS), and the Military Justice Division (AFJAJM), each of which had recommended denial. The Board’s findings of facts included:

Although he states counseling was recommended and says the Article 15 of 12 February 1988 was issued to solidify the denial of his reenlistment, we believe the imposition of the punishment was the prerogative of the commander based on sufficient reliable evidence. In addition, the JA review of the appeal concludes there is absolutely no evidence of bad faith or ill will behind this action.

On April 24, 1990, on reconsideration of the application for correction of military records, the AFBCMR, by a 2 to 1 majority concluded plaintiffs requests should be granted as indicated. The Board cited new evidence presented by plaintiff, and stated:

We again note the following circumstances: That the officer who reported applicant evidently felt he should be counseled for unprofessional behavior; however, the commander whose previous denial of applicant’s reenlistment had been overturned, imposed the Article 15 and used it as an additional issue in again denying reenlistment on 19 February 1988. Although such action was the commander’s prerogative, it appears an overreaction to a relatively minor and isolated incident and the new evidence is convincing that there is reasonable doubt concerning the propriety of documentation used in the discharge action and gives the appearance of “gunning” for him.
In view of the foregoing, we believe applicant should be given the benefit of the doubt and his records corrected to allow him to complete his 20 years for retirement.

On April 24, 1990, the Deputy AFRB, in a memorandum for the executive director of the AFBCMR, disagreed with, and overruled, the AFBCMR panel decision.

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Bluebook (online)
34 Fed. Cl. 682, 1996 U.S. Claims LEXIS 4, 1996 WL 20524, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/moehl-v-united-states-uscfc-1996.