February 15, 2006

In the Matter of the Petition by

SYLVIA E. ORZEL

P.S. Docket No. DCA 05-238

APPEARANCE FOR PETITIONER:

Charles Scialla

Scialla Associates, Inc.

APPEARANCE FOR RESPONDENT:

Gerald K. Klein

Labor Relations Manager

United States Postal Service

FINAL DECISION UNDER THE DEBT COLLECTION ACT OF 1982

The Notice of Docketing in this case was issued on December 30, 2005, and sent to the USPS Labor Relations Office in Detroit, Michigan. It was received in that office on January 3, 2006. The Notice stated that an Answer on behalf of the Postal Service was due on or about January 16, 2006.

When no Answer was received, an Order dated January 23, 2006 stated that, if Respondent intended to contest this case, an Answer or other appropriate pleading must be received by January 30, 2006. On January 31, 2006, we received, from the USPS Law Department in Chicago, a request for a two-week extension of time so that the Labor Relations Office could respond to the Petition. It was unclear why the Labor Relations Office apparently did nothing with the case between January 3 and their receipt of the January 23 Order.

By Order dated February 1, 2006, the request was granted in part. The Order stated that an Answer or other appropriate pleading shall be due on February 10, 2006, and that if nothing was filed by that date, the Petition would be granted without further notice. That Order was received in the Labor Relations Office on February 3, 2006.

By fax on February 14, 2006, we received a request for a further extension of time. That request is denied. In accordance with the February 1, 2006 Order, the Petition is granted. Respondent may not collect money from Petitioner to collect the alleged $2,286.68 debt. If any money has been withheld from Petitioner on account of this alleged debt, it shall be returned to her.

Bruce R. Houston

Chief Administrative Law Judge