DECISION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
On December 9, 2002, the attached decision of Hearing Officer Curtis von Kann was entered into the records of the office of Compliance. The Complainant filed a petition for review of the Hearing Officer’s decision, which the Board treated as timely over the Respondent’s objection. The petition included several handwritten comments addressing portions of the Hearing Officer’s decision. However, the Complainant subsequently did not file a supporting brief, as prescribed in the Office’s Procedural Rules. The Respondent has moved the Board, alternatively, to dismiss the appeal or strike the Complainant’s petition for review, for his failure to file a supporting brief.
Although there is a serious question as to whether this pro se [self-represented] complainant has fully satisfied the Board’s procedural requirements for filing a supporting brief, we nonetheless conclude that the record contains substantial evidence supporting the Hearing Officer’s conclusion that the termination of the Complainant’s employment was not motivated by factors of gender discrimination or retaliation. The Board, upon consideration of the matter, has decided to affirm the Hearing Officer’s findings, and his ultimate conclusion denying the Complainant’s claims.1
The Board, for the reasons set forth above, affirms the Hearing Officer’s decision. Because our decision to consider the case on the merits turns on very individualized procedural events we do not consider that part of this Decision to constitute precedential authority.
It is so ordered.
