Ware v. Merit Systems Protection Board

95 F. App'x 982
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
DecidedApril 8, 2004
DocketNo. 03-3254
StatusPublished

This text of 95 F. App'x 982 (Ware v. Merit Systems Protection Board) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Ware v. Merit Systems Protection Board, 95 F. App'x 982 (Fed. Cir. 2004).

Opinion

DECISION

PER CURIAM.

Robert Ware appeals from the Merit Systems Protection Board’s decision dismissing his appeal for lack of jurisdiction. Ware v. Dep’t of Health & Human Servs., No. DC-315H-03-0018-I-1, 2003 WL 21684890 (M.S.P.B. July 10, 2003) (“Final Decision”). We affirm.

DISCUSSION

Mr. Ware was appointed by the Department of Health & Human Services (“HHS”) to the position of Administrative Associate, GS-9, on November 4, 2001, subject to a one-year probationary period. On September 30, 2002, HHS notified Ware that he would be terminated from his position effective October 4, 2002, as a result of unacceptable performance. Asserting that the agency “demonstrated sexual bias and possibly religious bias,” Ware appealed his termination to the Board on September 30, 2002.

On December 17, 2002, the Administrative Judge (“AJ”) issued an Order to Show Cause, explaining that probationary employees who have less than one year of current, continuous service in the same or similar position have limited rights of appeal to the Board under 5 C.F.R. § 315.806 and that the burden was on Ware to prove that the Board had jurisdiction over his appeal. Ware responded by arguing that § 315.806 is not applicable, but that the Board has jurisdiction under 5 C.F.R. § 1201.3, 5 C.F.R. part 432, and 5 U.S.C. § 4303(e). Several days later, Ware also submitted a motion to disqualify the AJ, asserting that she had demonstrated “personal bias regarding the issue of jurisdiction,” and requested certification of the jurisdictional issue to the full Board as an interlocutory appeal.

[983]*983On December 30, 2002, the AJ issued an Initial Decision dismissing the appeal for lack of jurisdiction and denying Ware’s motion for disqualification and interlocutory appeal. Ware v. Dep’t of Health & Human Servs., No. DC-315H-03-0018-I-1 (M.S.P.B. Dec. 30, 2002) (“Initial Decision”). The Initial Decision explained that terminated probationary employees have no statutory right of appeal to the Board, and that a limited regulatory right has been provided only for such employees who allege that the agency’s action was based on partisan political reasons or marital status. Id., slip op. at 3. Ware filed a petition for review of the Initial Decision by the full Board. The Board denied that petition, Final Decision, slip op. at 2, and the Initial Decision became final pursuant to 5 C.F.R. § 1201.113(b). Ware timely appealed to this court.

We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1295(a)(9). However, Congress has expressly limited the scope of our review in appeals from the Board. Phillips v. U.S. Postal Sero., 695 F.2d 1389, 1390 (Fed.Cir.1982). Specifically, we must affirm the Board’s decision unless it was “(1) arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with law; (2) obtained without procedures required by law, rule, or regulation having been followed; or (3) unsupported by substantial evidence.” 5 U.S.C. § 7703(c) (2000).

On appeal, Ware argues that “[t]he conditions for jurisdiction are A. issues dealing with a reduction in grade [and] B. removal for unacceptable performance according to the Federal Code of Regulations,” and that “Part B applies” to his case. He again cites 5 C.F.R. § 1201.3, 5 C.F.R. part 432, and 5 U.S.C. § 4303(e). Ware also argues that the Board “ignore^] the fact that the probationary requirements were not applicable” because he had seven years of prior employment by HHS and the National Institutes of Health.

None of the provisions cited by Ware supports Board jurisdiction over his appeal, and we are aware of no alternative provisions that would do so. First, 5 C.F.R. § 1201.3 states, in relevant part, that

The Board has jurisdiction over appeals from agency actions when the appeals are authorized by law, rule, or regulation. These include appeals from the following actions:

(8) Termination of employment during probation ... when:
(i) The employee alleges discrimination because of partisan political reasons or marital status; or
(ii) The termination was based on conditions arising before appointment and the employee alleges that the action is procedurally improper (5 CFR 315.806, 38 U.S.C. 4214(b)(1)(E)).

5 C.F.R. § 1201.3(a) (2003). Because Ware did not allege “discrimination because of partisan political reasons or marital status” or procedurally improper action “based on conditions arising before appointment,” that regulation has no application here.

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Related

G.K. Phillips v. United States Postal Service
695 F.2d 1389 (Federal Circuit, 1982)

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Bluebook (online)
95 F. App'x 982, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/ware-v-merit-systems-protection-board-cafc-2004.