Unpublished Dispositionlester L. Burwell, Petitioner, v. Department of Agriculture, Respondent, 824 F.2d 978 (Fed. Cir. 1987)

DECISION

The decision of the Merit Systems Protection Board (Board), dismissing the petitioner's appeal, is affirmed.

OPINION

Following the petitioner's appeal to the Board from the decision of his agency to separate him pursuant to a reduction in force, the petitioner and the agency entered into a settlement agreement under which, in lieu of separation, the petitioner accepted a lower grade position with "save pay" for two years. The agreement was read into the record, and the petitioner moved to withdraw his appeal. The presiding official of the Board "reviewed the agreement" and found "that it is lawful on its face and appears to have been reached freely by the parties." The presiding official granted the petitioner's motion to withdraw his appeal and dismissed his appeal with prejudice. The full Board denied the petition to review the decision of the presiding official.

We affirm the decision of the Board on the basis of the opinion of the presiding official and the order of the Board denying review. Although the petitioner now contends that the Board and the agency committed various errors prior to the settlement agreement, the Board properly dismissed the appeal in view of that agreement.