DOL Home > OALJ > Whistleblower > Van Der Meer v. Western Kentucky University, 95-ERA-38 (ARB Apr. 8, 1997) |
ARB CASE NO. 97-078
(ALJ CASE NO. 95-ERA-38)
DATE: April 8, 1997
In the Matter of:
WIEB VAN DER MEER,
v.
WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY,
COMPLAINANT,
RESPONDENT.
BEFORE: THE ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW BOARD1
The Recommended Decision and Order (R. D. and O.) issued on March 14, 1997 by the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) has been transmitted to the Board for review. The following briefing schedule is established in this case. Respondent may file an initial brief, not to exceed 30 double spaced typed pages, on or before May 5, 1997. Complainant may file a reply brief, not to exceed 30 double spaced typed pages, on or before June 4, 1997. Respondent may file a rebuttal brief, exclusively responsive to the reply brief and not to exceed 10 double spaced typed pages, on or before June 19, 1997.
All pleadings are expected to conform to the page limitations and should be prepared in Courier 12 point, 10 character-per-inch type or larger, with minimum one inch left
and right margins and minimum 1 inch top and bottom margins, printed on 8 by 11 inch paper.
An original and four copies of all pleadings and briefs shall be filed with the Administrative Review Board, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Room S-4309, Washington, D.C., 20210 (Telephone Number, 202-219-4728; Facsimile Number, 202-219-9315).
The ALJ further allowed thirty (30) days from the date of the R. D. and O. for Complainant's counsel to submit a fees and costs petition and an additional fifteen days from Respondent's receipt of the fees and costs petition for Respondent to reply to the petition for fees and costs. Since the amended ERA requires that a preliminary order awarding damages, except compensatory damages, be issued when a complainant prevails before an ALJ, the following preliminary order is hereby entered:
(1) Respondent shall expunge any reference to the adverse action against the Complainant from all University files; and
(2) Respondent shall post the ALJ's R. D. and O. in this case on appropriate bulletin boards for a period of not less than sixty (60) days.
The ALJ ordered Respondent to release -- without comment -- the R. D. and O. to the press. We are not going to preliminarily order this recommended relief because we question our authority to order such relief in a final order. The parties, if they so choose, may
address this issue in their briefs. The parties and interested persons are hereby further directed to note that when the ALJ issues a supplemental recommended order on attorney's fees and costs, a supplemental preliminary order and briefing schedule will be issued.
SO ORDERED.
DAVID A. O'BRIEN
Chair
KARL J. SANDSTROM
Member
JOYCE D. MILLER
Alternate Member
1 On April 17, 1996, a Secretary's Order was signed delegating jurisdiction to issue final agency decisions under this statute and the implementing regulations (29 C.F.R. Part 24) to the newly created Administrative Review Board. Secretary's Order 2-96 (Apr. 17, 1996), 61 Fed. Reg. 19978 (May 3, 1996). Secretary's Order 2-96 contains a comprehensive list of the statutes, executive order, and regulations under which the Administrative Review Board now issues final agency decisions. Final revisions to the procedural regulations (61 Fed. Reg. 19982) implementing this reorganization were also published on May 3, 1996.