October 5, 2001 In the Matter of the Petition by DEBRA R. BREWSTER P.O. Box 2427 at Rialto, CA 92377-2427 P.S. Docket No. DCA 01-280 APPEARANCE FOR PETITIONER: Debra R. Brewster P.O. Box 2427 Rialto, CA 92377-2427 APPEARANCE FOR RESPONDENT: Larissa O. Taran, Esq. Employment & Labor Law United States Postal Service 475 L’Enfant Plaza, SW, Room 6534 Washington, DC 20260-1137
FINAL DECISION UNDER THE DEBT COLLECTION ACT OF 1982
Respondent's Answer to the Petition in this case was due on September 11, 2001. By Order dated September 17, 2001, Respondent, the United States Postal Service, was advised that if it intended to contest this Petition, an Answer or other appropriate pleading must be received in this office by September 26, 2001. Respondent was further advised that if an Answer or other appropriate pleading was not received by that date, the Petition may be granted without further notice. Respondent received this Order on September 19, 2001, but has failed to file an Answer or other appropriate pleading. Accordingly, the Petition is granted and Respondent may not collect the alleged debt from Petitioner’s salary by involuntary administrative offset. Any amount that has been deducted from Petitioner's salary on account of this alleged debt must be reimbursed to Petitioner.
Bruce R. Houston Chief Administrative Law Judge