Muerer v. Ryder, Civ. A. 19294.

• Decision Date: 27 October 1955
• Docket Number: Civ. A. 19294.
• Citation: 137 F. Supp. 362
• Parties: Sonia D. MUERER v. Stephen P. RYDER, as Regional Director, U. S. Civil Service Commission, and Captain John W. Crumpacker, U. S. Navy, as General Stores Supply Officer, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
• Court: U.S. District Court — Eastern District of Pennsylvania

137 F. Supp. 362

Sonia D. MUERER v. Stephen P. RYDER, as Regional Director, U. S. Civil Service Commission, and Captain John W. Crumpacker, U. S. Navy, as General Stores Supply Officer, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Civ. A. 19294.

United States District Court E. D. Pennsylvania.

October 27, 1955.

Joseph Neumann Smith, Philadelphia, Pa., for plaintiff.

W. Wilson White, U. S. Atty., Alan J. Swotes, Asst. U. S. Atty., Philadelphia, Pa., for defendant.

WELSH, District Judge.

In February, 1953, plaintiff obtained civilian employment as Methods Examiner for the United States Navy General Stores Supply Office. She was suspended from said employment for security reasons on July 27, 1953 and was discharged (after hearing and appeal) on April 12, 1954. In this action plaintiff seeks an order requiring defendant, John W. Crumpacker, to cancel the notice of removal from office sent to plaintiff and to restore her to duty as Methods Examiner in the General Stores Supply Office, with back pay and increments from July 27, 1953.¹

The defendant, Ryder, has moved to dismiss the action against the defendant, Crumpacker, on the grounds (1) the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Air is an indispensable party and can be served only in the District of Columbia, (2) the relief sought is in the nature of mandamus, jurisdiction of which is in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia and (3) the plaintiff is guilty of laches.

I. Is the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Air an indispensable party?

The applicable law is that the superior officer is an indispensable party if the decree granting the relief sought will require him to take action, either by exercising directly a power lodged in him or by having a subordinate exercise it for him. Williams v. Fanning, 322 U. S. 490, 68 S.Ct. 188, 92 L.Ed. 95; Money v. Wallin, 3 Cir., 186 F.2d 411; Daggs v. Klein, 9 Cir., 169 F.2d 174 and Schwartz v. Ryder, D.C., 18 F.R.D. 201, opinion by Judge Lord of this District dated July 18, 1955. To the same effect see Blackmar v. Guerre, 342 U.S. 512, 72 S.Ct. 410, 96 L.Ed. 534 and Martucci v. Mayer, 3 Cir., 210 F.2d 259.

The decision to remove a civilian employee of the Navy in the interest of national security is vested in the Secretary of the Navy or in his authorized subordinate. 5 U.S.C.A. § 22-1; Executive Order No. 10450, 5 U.S.C.A. § 631 note, and Navy Civilian Personnel Regulation 29. We think it clear in the present case the decision to remove plaintiff was that of the Secretary of the Navy (acting through his authorized subordinate, the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Air) and not that of Captain Boundy, who was Commanding Officer of the Naval Installation in question at the time of plaintiff's removal and who transmitted to plaintiff the communication removing her. It is equally clear from the above statute, order and regulation, we think that the Secretary of the Navy alone, or as...