February 29, 2008

 

In the Matter of the Petition by                    

                                                                                                                                               

LYNN FONDA                                                                         

                                   

P.S. Docket No. DCA 08-9

 

APPEARANCE FOR PETITIONER:         

Albert E Lum                                     

APPEARANCE FOR RESPONDENT:     

George Adkisson

Labor Relations Specialist

United States Postal Service
           

 

FINAL DECISION UNDER THE DEBT COLLECTION ACT OF 1982

            Respondent’s Answer to the Petition was originally due on or about January 23, 2008.  When no Answer was received, an Order was issued, stating that if Respondent intended to contest this case, an Answer or other appropriate pleading must be received in this office by February 8, 2008.  Respondent received this Order on February 5, 2008.

In late January 2008, Petitioner filed an “Amended Petition,” along with a copy of a new Notice of Involuntary Administrative Salary Offsets, dated January 18, 2008.  Because it was not clear whether this new Notice was a replacement for, or in addition to, the previous Notice of Involuntary Administrative Salary Offsets, dated December 31, 2007, we chose to await Respondent’s Answer rather than docket a second case.

            On February 14, 2008, still no Answer having been filed, we issued another Order, stating, “Because we wish to clarify this matter before taking further action, Respondent will be given another opportunity to file an Answer.  However, if an Answer is not received in this office by February 25, 2008, the Petition, covering both alleged debts, will be granted without further notice.”  Respondent received this Order on February 19, 2008.

            Respondent has filed nothing.  Accordingly, the Petition is granted.  Respondent may not withhold money from Petitioner’s salary to collect the debt alleged in either the Notice of Involuntary Administrative Salary Offsets dated December 31, 2007, or the Notice of Involuntary Administrative Salary Offsets dated January 18, 2008.

 

 

 

Bruce R. Houston

Chief Administrative Law Judge