Randall E. Fowler, Petitioner, v. Defense Logistics Agency, Respondent, 878 F.2d 1446 (Fed. Cir. 1989)

DECISION

The decision of the Merit Systems Protection Board (board), 38 M.S.P.R. 174 (1988), reversing the initial decision and sustaining the Defense Logistics Agency's removal of Randall E. Fowler (Fowler), is affirmed. Fowler's petition for review of the Clerk of the board's letter, informing him that the board has no procedure for entertaining his motion for reconsideration, is dismissed.

OPINION

Fowler's allegation that he "was denied due process by ex-parte communications with the deciding official" is without merit. Only one of the alleged "incidents" involves the deciding official in any way, and the "incident" involving the deciding official is not an improper ex-parte communication, Mr. Hendrix merely having told Captain Gahm he had been assaulted by an employee and "was initiating administrative processing, including an investigation." Compare Sullivan v. Department of the Navy, 720 F.2d 1266, 1270-73 with cases discussed therein.

The board did not abuse its discretion in reversing the initial decision and sustaining Fowler's removal. The board carefully considered the here relevant Douglas factors, and we cannot say that removal is totally unwarranted in the circumstances of this case. See Dominguez v. Department of the Air Force, 803 F.2d 680, 684 (Fed. Cir. 1986). We agree with the board that "to the extent that the initial decision can be read to imply that the deciding official ... did not consider and reject a lesser penalty, the initial decision is in error." The record establishes that the deciding official considered lesser penalties but rejected them as inappropriate.

We have considered Fowler's remaining arguments, but find them unpersuasive of any reversible error. See 5 U.S.C. § 7703(c) (1982); Hayes v. Department of the Navy, 727 F.2d 1535, 1537 (Fed. Cir. 1984).

We dismiss Fowler's petition for review of the Clerk of the board's letter. That letter is not "a final order or decision of the ... [b]oard" and therefore may not be appealed to this court. 5 U.S.C. § 7703(a) (1).