Neutze v. United States

88 Fed. Cl. 763, 2009 U.S. Claims LEXIS 295, 2009 WL 2842736
CourtUnited States Court of Federal Claims
DecidedAugust 31, 2009
DocketNo. 08-442C
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 88 Fed. Cl. 763 (Neutze 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
Neutze v. United States, 88 Fed. Cl. 763, 2009 U.S. Claims LEXIS 295, 2009 WL 2842736 (uscfc 2009).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND FINAL ORDER

SUSAN G. BRADEN, Judge.

I. RELEVANT FACTS.1

On November 1, 2000, Plaintiff enrolled in the Army ROTC program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and executed an Army Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Scholarship Cadet Contract to serve for eight years (“ROTC Scholarship Contract”). AR 82. In exchange, Plaintiff received a maximum annual tuition assistance of $20,000 for each of four academic years. Id. The ROTC Scholarship Contract required, however, that Plaintiff comply with the Army Weight Control Program and pass the Army Physical Fitness Test (“APFT”), [766]*766prior to the end of the final school term of her Military Science HI year. AR 83. Plaintiff agreed that, if she was disenrolled from the Reserve Officer Training Corps (“ROTC”) for “failing to comply with other terms and conditions of this [C]ontract,” or “[o]ther disenrollment criteria established now or in the future by Army regulations,” the Secretary of the Army or a designee may “order [Plaintiff] to active duty as an enlisted soldier for a period of not more than four years, or in lieu of being ordered to active duty, may require [Plaintiff] to reimburse the United States through repayment of an amount of money, plus interest, equal to the entire amount of financial assistance paid by the United States for my advanced education.” AR 87.

By the second semester of her third year Plaintiff was selected as an ROTC Company Executive Officer, making her the highest ranking female Cadet in her Battalion. Compl. ¶ 6. Despite this achievement, Plaintiff was warned on several occasions that she was at risk of losing her scholarship, if her physical fitness failed to improve. AR 87, 96, 98, 100-01. After Plaintiff passed the APFT in May 2003, she received orders to attend the National Advanced Cadet Leadership Course (“NALC”) at Fort Lewis, Washington. AR 4. All senior level cadets were required to complete the NALC to receive a commission after graduation. Id.

On June 13, 2003, the Army arranged for Plaintiff to travel from Gatwick Airport, outside of London where she lived at the time, to Seattle via Cincinnati. Compl. ¶ 7. Because of flight and related delays, Plaintiff arrived at Fort Lewis, after traveling more than 24 hours. Id. On June 14, 2003, Plaintiff completed processing at Fort Lewis. Compl. ¶ 8. Two days later, Plaintiff and other cadets took the initial APFT. Id. She failed. Compl. ¶ 6. Although Plaintiff scored 200 points cumulatively, she was three situps short of the required minimum. AR 4. Cadets who fail the initial APFT can be retested within three days. PL Ex. E-l. The NALC Commandant, however, afforded Plaintiff only a day of rest before the retest. Compl. ¶ 9.

On June 18, 2003, Plaintiff and her Platoon allegedly were required to do sporadic pushups and an hour of physical training, including 25 flutter kicks, 20 side straddle hops, and a long run. AR 4 ¶ 7. Following these exercises, Plaintiff and her Platoon allegedly were not given adequate time to stretch. Id. That afternoon, Plaintiffs Platoon was required to hold a front leaning rest position and perform flutter kicks and leg lifts every 3 to 10 minutes during a one hour period. Id.

On June 19, 2003, Plaintiff failed the APFT retest. AR 103. Plaintiff was not eligible to receive a final opportunity to pass the APFT, because she failed both the push-up and situp portions of the retest. PI. Ex. E-l.

On July 2, 2003, Plaintiff received notice that disenrollment proceedings were being initiated. AR 48. In response, Plaintiff requested the appointment of an Investigating Officer. Compl. ¶ 12. On September 30, 2003, Plaintiffs ROTC Commander appointed an Investigating Officer to determine whether Plaintiff should be retained and the amount of her scholarship debt. AR 50. The investigation was set to commence on October 6, 2003 and conclude on October 20, 2003. AR 43.

Plaintiff asked to be retained, even without the scholarship, and allowed to earn her commission. Compl. ¶ 13. In response, Plaintiff was offered an opportunity to take another APFT to assess her level of fitness. AR 5. Plaintiff asked if she could take the test two days later, since she was then fasting for religious reasons. Id. The Investigating Officer explained that was not possible, because October 22, 2003 exceeded the investigation’s designated termination date. Id. Plaintiff agreed to take the APFT on October 20, 2003, and again failed. Id.

On October 20, 2003, the Investigating Officer concluded that Plaintiff did not voluntarily fail to complete the requirements of the ROTC Contract nor did she do so as a result of misconduct. AR 43-45. That Report also noted that Plaintiff understood the consequences if she failed the APFT. Id. Although Plaintiff passed 3 prior APFTs, she also failed 4 APFTs within a 22-month period. Id. Therefore, the Investigating Officer [767]*767concluded that Plaintiff should not be retained in the ROTC, either as a scholarship or non-scholarship cadet and should be disen-rolled, pursuant to ROTC UP AR 145-1, para. 3-43(a)(10). Id. In addition, the Investigating Officer recommended that Plaintiff be ordered to repay her scholarship debt. Id. The Battalion Commander approved the Investigating Officer’s findings and recommendations. AR 46.

On April 6, 2004, Plaintiffs disenrollment was approved by the Commanding General of the United States Army Cadet Command. AR 19. On April 20, 2005, the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Department of the Army denied Plaintiffs interim appeal, found the amount of scholarship debt was $61,710, and ordered that she repay that amount. AR 11. On April 22, 2005, Plaintiff received a notice from the Director of Military Personnel Management confirming the validity of her debt. AR10.

In August 2005, Plaintiff appealed to the Army Board of Correction of Military Records (“ABCMR”) for correction of her military records to reflect that she did not owe the $61,710 scholarship debt. Compl. ¶ 14; PL Ex. J. On July 5, 2006, the ABCMR unanimously denied Plaintiffs appeal. AR 1-7.

II. PROCEDURAL HISTORY.

On June 16, 2008, Plaintiff filed a Complaint in the United States Court of Federal Claims alleging that her disenrollement from the ROTC was improper and requesting that the court “issue an order confirming that Plaintiff is not indebted to the United States as the result of her service in the Army ROTC.” Compl. ¶ 38. On October 17, 2008, the defendant (“Government”) filed a Motion To Dismiss Or, In the Alternate, Motion For Judgment Upon The Administrative Record (“Gov’t Mot. Dis.”). On the same date, the Government also filed the Administrative Record.

On November 17, 2008, Plaintiff filed a Motion To Amend [the June 16, 2008] Complaint, to add jurisdictional grounds. On November 20, 2008, the court granted Plaintiffs Motion To Amend. Plaintiff, however, failed to file an Amended Complaint thereafter.

On December 18, 2008, Plaintiff filed a Response to the Government’s Motion and a Cross-Motion For Judgment On The Administrative Record (“PI. Resp.”). On March 9, 2009, the Government filed a Response (“Gov’t. Resp.”) to Plaintiffs December 18, 2008 Cross-Motion. On May 28, 2009, Plaintiff filed a Reply (“PI. Reply”).

III. DISCUSSION.

A. Jurisdiction.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
88 Fed. Cl. 763, 2009 U.S. Claims LEXIS 295, 2009 WL 2842736, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/neutze-v-united-states-uscfc-2009.