Initial Decision

In the Matter of: Marcus Steele Employee  vs. DC Department on Disability Services Agency

OEA Matter No. 1601-0031-10

Date of Issuance: January 4, 2012

Lois Hochhauser, Esq. Administrative Judge

 Marcus Steele, Employee herein, filed a petition with the Office of Employee Appeals (OEA) on October 9, 2009, appealing the decision of the District of Columbia Department of Disability Services, Agency herein, to remove him from his position as Service Coordinator, effective September 9, 2009. The matter was assigned to me on July 21, 2011.

On July 22, 2011, I issued an Order scheduling a prehearing conference for August 16, 2011. Ross Buchholz, Esq., Agency Representative, appeared at the scheduled time, but
Employee, who was appearing pro se, did not. I issued an Order on August 17, 2011 directing Employee to show good cause for his failure to attend the prehearing conference or to contact me if he could not be present. Employee responded in a timely manner and presented the reasons for his absence. Agency was given the opportunity to oppose Employee’s request that his petition not be dismissed, but did not do so. On October 14, 2011, I concluded that Employee had shown good cause for his absence, and scheduled another prehearing conference for November 4, 2011.