December 14, 2007
In the Matter of the Petition
by
JACQUELINE LANGFORD-COLE
P.S. Docket No. DCA 07-287
APPEARANCE FOR PETITIONER:
Charles Scialla
APPEARANCE FOR RESPONDENT:
Rose Carter-Melson
Manager, Labor Relations
United States Postal Service
FINAL DECISION UNDER THE DEBT COLLECTION
ACT OF 1982
Respondent filed its Answer to the Petition in mid-October 2007. We then made several attempts to schedule a telephone conference with the parties. Petitioner’s representative provided us with available dates and times. We were unable to reach Respondent’s representative and several telephone messages were not returned. An Order dated December 6, 2007 directed Respondent’s representative to call this office (703 812-1919) on receipt of the Order so that a telephone conference could be arranged. The Order further stated that, if Respondent failed to respond to this Order, the Petition would be granted without further notice.
Respondent received the December 6 Order on December 7, 2007 and has not responded. Accordingly, the Petition is granted. Respondent may not withhold money from Petitioner’s salary to collect the alleged debt. If any money has been withheld from Petitioner for this debt, it shall be returned to her.
Bruce R.
Chief Administrative Law Judge