Rosario C. Lacuesta, Petitioner, v. Merit Systems Protection Board, Respondent, 991 F.2d 809 (Fed. Cir. 1993)

Rosario C. Lacuesta petitions for review of the decision of the Merit Systems Protection Board dismissing her appeal for untimeliness. SE0831920113-I-1, March 18, 1992. We affirm.

In its final decision, OPM advised Lacuesta that she had 25 days to appeal to the MSPB. She filed her appeal 21 days late. Lacuesta had the burden of proving excusable delay before the board. Mendoza v. Merit Sys. Protection Bd., 966 F.2d 650, 653 (Fed. Cir. 1992). However, she did not respond to the administrative judge's order that she explain why her appeal was untimely or that she show good cause for filing out of time. "A petitioner who ignores an order of the Administrative Judge does so at his or her peril." Id. at 653. As she failed to meet her burden of establishing excusable delay in filing her appeal, the board correctly determined that there were no grounds for waiving the 25-day limit.