Meet Prada, a Bichon Frise female available for adoption locally.
Here is what her friends at Somerset Cottage Poodle Rescue have to say about her:
Miss Prada is a very sweet little girl who came to us from the shelter, she was found as a stray in terrible shape. She was spayed and given a very much needed dental and had two small lumps removed. She now only has 7 teeth left but has no problem eating small kibble.
We were told she was around 15yrs old, but our vet says ” No way Jose” — this cutie pie is around 10yrs old full of life, loves to play and is as sweet as they come! A little heavy round the mid section but nothing a little exercise cant fix and a calorie controlled diet. PRADA weighs around 15 lbs.
Her eyes are clear, no heart murmurs so she is in good shape! Prada would love a home with a mature family that is home a lot, she loves to ride in the car too. She loves to be outside if the weather is nice.
Are you and Prada a match?
Meet Jack, an adult grey and white Domestic Short Hair male available for adoption locally.
Here is what his friends at Little Buddies Adoption and Humane Society have to say about him:
Can you believe that a cat as cute as Jack has been with us for over THREE YEARS? We’re not sure why, because he is so nice, doesn’t mind other cats, and even has a tiny heart on his nose. Who could resist?!
Jack is a true rags to riches story, because he was originally found as a stray in West Virginia. He was cold, hungry and needed some medical attention for a couple issues. We’re glad he came into our care so we could patch him up and get him happy and healthy again!
Jack — aka Jack Jack aka One-Eye Jack — has numerous hobbies that occupy his time. He likes to lounge in his cat tree, lounge in his window perch, lounge in the sunny patch that moves across the carpet and lounge on your bed. When the mood strikes, he likes playing with his laser toy, but his favorite thing is to.. you guessed it: lounge.
This sweet cat is very people-oriented, and will love to sleep in bed with you. He even comes when you call his name! Seriously, what could be better than being greeted by this handsome fellow when you get home from work or errands, and then having him follow you around lounging all day?
Jack is 4 years old and in really good shape, especially given his mysterious past and the shape he was in when he first arrived to us. He has a minor heart condition that is well-managed with medication, which Jack takes like a champ mixed with his food or in a pill pocket. An easy-to-medicate cat? What a dream. The pills are very reasonably priced, too (just $6 for a two month supply) so that’s not too much to ask to keep Jack in tip-top shape, right?
Are you and Jack a match?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7Veraq5gKs
The world may look a little different right now, but one thing hasn’t changed: our commitment to ending Alzheimer’s. This year, Walk to End Alzheimer’s is everywhere — on every sidewalk, track and trail.
Your health and safety are our top priorities. This year’s event won’t be a large in-person gathering — instead, we invite you to walk in small teams of friends and family while others in your community do the same. Walk in your neighborhood, in your community, at your place of business or work, at your school and at your place of worship.
Because we are all still walking and fundraising for the same thing: a world without Alzheimer’s and all other dementia.
Questions? Please contact our office: Sonya Amartey, Walk Manager, Alzheimer’s Association — [email protected]/703-766-9025.
How does a luxury apartment community enhance their residents’ lifestyle in the new normal? One Herndon apartment community, Station on Silver may just have the recipe for success… and it involves spring rolls.
Station on Silver typically offers a full roster of resident activities ranging from weekly Zumba classes to Winedown Wednesdays, yappy hour for pets, weekend bubbly brunches and more. But with social distancing, they have gotten even more creative to offer residents a vibrant social calendar of events.
For example, the community recently hired a chef to teach a virtual cooking class on how to make spring rolls. Residents were sent a list of ingredients ahead of time so they could follow along step by step to make their own dish while watching the live stream lesson on Zoom. Other virtual events have included bingo, and yes even virtual trivia nights.
Some events are also in person while still keeping social distancing in mind. One weekend morning residents got their day off to a nice start with Chick-Fil-A breakfast sandwiches. Fun treats can keep the quarantine doldrums at bay, so the community brought in an ice cream truck to offer complimentary shaved ice and popsicles for the residents.
To keep spirits up, the community also donated gift cards to nurses and other frontline workers and coordinated an appreciation event for residents to stand out on the balconies while banging pots and pans to celebrate frontline workers. Later this summer the community will offer an outdoor movie night under the stars with a big screen.
An outdoor lifestyle has always had an appeal, but recently even more so, and Station on Silver offers best in class amenities to take advantage of the outdoors, including a stunning rooftop deck complete with fire pit, hammocks, an outdoor billiards table, cornhole, and choice of watching the game on the outdoor TV or taking in the vistas of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Additional outdoor lifestyle amenities feature 2 courtyards with grilling areas, abundant lounge seating and a fire pit. Plus, a resort swimming pool with chaise lounges immersed in the sunshelf to stay cool all summer long.
Residents also enjoy the state-of-the-art fitness center and yoga studio with a WELLBEATS virtual workout system, clubroom with shuffleboard, billiards and foosball, in addition to a media room with gaming system and large flat screen for movies. If all these entertainment zones add up to too much fun, residents can also get more productive hosting meetings in the conference room or working from home in the cyber café. There also is an on-site pet spa for your four-legged best friend.
The community offers a selection of floorplans including studio, one and two bedroom apartments, each with top of the line finishes including quartz counters, stainless steel appliances, sleek plank flooring, spa-inspired bathrooms, and built-in bookshelves. Many apartments offer patios or balconies to extend living space outdoors.
The location is convenient right off Sunrise Valley Drive with easy access to the Dulles Toll Road. Soon enough, Metro’s Silver Line extension will be complete and the luxury apartments at Station on Silver are perfectly poised directly across from the Dulles Innovation Center station in Herndon to provide quick access to the best of the D.C. Metropolitan area.
Even touring apartments has gotten a makeover in this world of the new normal and customers are offered a variety of options based on their comfort level. They can tour Station on Silver in person with a leasing professional, schedule a contact-free self-guided to view the apartment by themselves, or even view the apartment virtually.
Next stop: Home. View floorplans, availability, amenities and photo gallery to learn more about the luxury apartment lifestyle at Station on Silver.
Station on Silver is at 2340 Carta Way in Herndon. Please call 571-350-3848 or view their website.
Meet Buster, a Terrier/American Staffordshire male available for adoption locally.
Here is what Buster from Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation has to say about himself:
Hi, I’m Buster and my friends would describe me as the big, strong guy with a heart of gold. I love long walks in the park (or anywhere) and don’t mind passing people along the way. I get a little excited when I see other dogs and may bark or want to pull on the leash for a closer look.
Although I have shared my home with a guinea pig, I prefer to be the only dog (and no cats either). I am crate trained and love toys with that squeaky thing in them. Right now, I’m looking to settle down in a nice home where I can lounge on the sofa and play with my people. Lots of playing. I also love back scratches and giving slobbery kisses.
I don’t always know my own strength, so I would probably be better suited to a home with teenagers or adults only. I’d really appreciate someone with canine experience who knows how to give a dog my size plenty of exercise and can hold their own with me on the leash.
Are you and Buster a match?
This is a sponsored column by attorneys John Berry and Kimberly Berry of Berry & Berry, PLLC, an employment and labor law firm located in Northern Virginia that specializes in federal employee, security clearance, retirement and private sector employee matters.
By John V. Berry, Esq.
The U.S. Supreme Court, on June 15, 2020, by a 6-3 vote, in the case of Bostock v. Clayton County, ruled that federal law protects gay and transgender workers (or applicants) from employment discrimination. A copy of the new landmark Supreme Court case is provided here.
In short, the new court case found that “an employer who fires an individual merely for being gay or transgender violates Title VII” of the Civil Rights Act.” This is a landmark decision, the extent of which will evolve in the years to come as other courts start hearing these types of employment discrimination cases.
Why is the Ruling Important?
The major reason why the Supreme Court decision is so important is that there have been few protections against sexual orientation discrimination (even fewer for transgender discrimination) under various state laws. Less than one-half of the states have laws banning sexual orientation or gender identity discrimination (Virginia enacted one recently).
For the first time, employees in all 50 states have protections from this type of discrimination. This ruling makes it just as illegal under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 for an employer to discriminate against someone for being gay or transgender as it does for employers to discriminate against employees based on race, sex or religion.
Justice Neil Gorsuch, in drafting the Supreme Court’s decision, reasoned that while the Civil Rights Act was passed in 1964, the language used at the time by Congress had many unintended consequences at the time which have come to light over the past 56 years. Justice Gorsuch believed that the language in the 1964 law applied to gay and transgender employees:
“In Title VII, Congress adopted broad language making it illegal for an employer to rely on an employee’s sex when deciding to fire that employee. We do not hesitate to recognize today a necessary consequence of that legislative choice: An employer who fires an individual merely for being gay or transgender defies the law.”
Three Justices disagreed, including Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh.
What does the Ruling Mean?
The new Supreme Court ruling means that employees (or applicants) who are fired, not hired, or otherwise discriminated against at work because they are gay or transgender, will be able to file equal employment opportunity (EEO) complaints and sue their employers in federal court for illegal discrimination.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is currently revising their website to account for this new decision and their role in enforcing the decision of the Supreme Court in the 50 states.
Because the Civil Rights Act applies to employers with 15 or more employees, there remains a gap in protections for gay and transgender employees in the 25 or so states without state law protections. There is also the hope that some states that don’t specifically protect gay or transgender employees from discrimination may interpret their own civil rights laws to now include such protections taking a cue from the U.S. Supreme Court.
In short, it is the first federal step in protecting gay and transgender employees from employment discrimination. It is also long overdue.
Contact Us
If you are in need of employment law legal representation or advice, please contact our office at 703-668-0070 or through our contact page to schedule a consultation. Please also visit and like us on Facebook or Twitter.
Meet Mona Leasha, a black Retriever/Labrador mix available for adoption locally.
Here is what her friends at Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation have to say about her:
Mona Leasha is a thing of beauty and a cuddly one too! Her big, enigmatic eyes will draw you in and make it hard to look away from all the cuteness!
This pretty lady is a wonderful walking companion, who is happy to accompany you wherever you want to go. Mona can be leash reactive with some other dogs — usually those that are bigger than her — and her foster is working with her on this. Her adopter should continue this training.
Mona Leasha otherwise has a very calm, sweet demeanor and is always happy to make new friends. When we’ve turned her loose in the yard with other dogs during playgroup, she’s turned up the energy and ran and wrestled with the fastest of them!
She is very curious about everyone and everything in her surroundings. Once she gets to know you, she likes to say hello with gentle kisses and lots of tail wagging! Mona Leasha is basically potty-trained, smart and treat motivated. She does have a little incontinence, but it is controlled by medication, and she has no problem rocking a fashionable dog diaper when needed.
Are you and Mona Leasha a match?
Meet Eggs, an adult Shepherd mix female available for adoption locally.
Here is what her friends at Fancy Cats Rescue Team have to say about her:
Meet Eggs! This affectionate and playful shepherd mix is 2 years old.
She loves to run after a ball, have her belly rubbed and go for walks. She is very trainable and even comes when called. She seems to be good in the car (doesn’t mind running errands!).
Eggs is great with other dogs & kids!
Are you and Eggs a match?
This is a sponsored post from Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate. For a more complete picture of home sales in your neighborhood, contact her on Reston Real Estate.
Back in March when everything was shutting down I would never have predicted the speed at which the real estate market has continued to move.
Inventory is still very limited, interest rates are insanely low and I think the reality of working from home and home schooling kids may be driving people to reconsider their current living situations.
Currently there are 135 active and coming soon properties listed in Reston. That represents a one month supply of housing inventory. The average number of days it takes a house to sell is 20, with a median of just 6 days.
There’s a lesson in these numbers if you’ve got a house on the market that hasn’t sold. As strong as the market is the buyers are not buying everything and anything a seller puts on the market. Seller’s need to take whatever steps are needed to make sure that their home is the best priced “item” in its category FOR ITS PRICE PONIT. If your home is a fixer and you’ve got it priced like the one that’s “move in ready” down the block, you can expect to sit; these buyers are informed!
Here’s a few that sold in the last week.
11450 Waterview Cluster
4 BD/3.5 BA
List Price: $849,000
Sold Price: $850,000
11510 Sunder Court
3 BD/3.5 BA
List Price: $525,000
Sold Price: $551,000
11566 Rolling Green Court #100
2 BD/2 BA
List Price: $299,900
Sold Price: $299,900
2424 Silver Fox Lane
5 BD/4.5 BA
List Price: $880,000
Sold Price: $880,000
1559 Regatta Lane
4 BD/4.5 BA
List Price: $1,200,00
Sold Price: $1,200,000
We spent our shut down time reworking the All Reston Real Estate website. You can check it out here.
By Nicola Caul Shelley, Synergy Design & Construction
We’ve all seen the reality T.V. home remodeling shows. Half way through, there’s what we call an ‘HGTV moment’ when it happens, “We just discovered this is a load-bearing wall. That’s going to be another hit to your budget so we have to take something else out of your remodel or increase your budget to cover the cost.”
No-one wants to be in this position. It’s not good for you, it’s not good for your home remodeler. The reality is any qualified and experienced home remodeler should have figured out if there is a load-bearing wall in play well before anyone comes near your home with a sledge hammer. Undoubtedly, removing a load-bearing wall adds cost to your home remodeling plans because it requires alternate suitable support, but a little careful exploration upfront should tell you at the outset of your remodel what’s really going on with that wall between your kitchen and dining room.
Be prepared, your chosen or prospective home remodeler may have to poke a few holes in your drywall at the beginning of the process to see what’s going on behind the scenes. This is normal practice — but will require patching if you decide not to proceed with your home remodel.
So, what are the telltale signs that might indicate if a wall is load-bearing or not?
Disclaimer alert! ALWAYS get an expert’s opinion before you decide to remove ANY wall in your home!
Look at the Joists
Do the joists run parallel or perpendicular to the wall you’re thinking of removing? In general, if the joists run perpendicular to the wall, it’s a sign it might be a load-bearing wall. In the example below, the red X shows what a load-bearing wall looks like behind the drywall. However, there are some instances when joists run parallel but the wall is load-bearing because the builder has aligned the wall under a single joist or the weight is being supported by blocking between two neighboring joists, so always get a professional opinion.
Got an Unfinished Basement or Crawl Space?
If you have an unfinished basement or crawl space below your kitchen (or other first floor room you want to remodel), take a peek in the ceiling at what is going beneath the room above. If there are any type of structures (such as columns, supports, beams, etc.) that follow the same path as the wall above, it’s a sign of support needed for a load-bearing wall.
Don’t Make Assumptions About Knee-walls or Part Walls
Just because you have a partition wall, it doesn’t mean it’s not load-bearing. We’ve had this occur in quite a few home remodels over the years. A load-bearing beam or other structure may be hiding behind the drywall of a part wall or a knee-wall with a column between two rooms. If your remodeling goal is a more open concept, a load-bearing beam may be required when you remove a part or knee-wall, so due diligence up front will ensure you know exactly what you’re dealing with before construction starts.
Case Study: A Reston Townhouse Transformation
This month’s featured remodel is the first floor remodel of a lake-fronted townhouse in Reston. The existing layout and finishes made the first floor feel dark, small and closed-in. Preferring a contemporary look and a more open concept, our clients were ready to make the changes needed to make the home their own and better reflect their design aesthetic.
However, the wall separating the dining room and kitchen was load-bearing. We removed it along with a non load-bearing faux painted pillar (seen on the left of the Before photo). This is a great example of how things were not as you might expect — the column was decorative only so it was easily removed, but a load-bearing beam was required to replace the wall between the kitchen and dining room.
The result? With the wall and pillar gone, the energy of the whole first floor is now totally transformed. The spaces flow from one to the next and the entire area feels bigger. We also replaced the sliding doors to the deck and a picture window off a sunroom to make the most of the gorgeous water views from the rear of the house. It’s now a modern and tranquil space with lots of room for the couple and their family and friends to enjoy.
Ready to start your hassle-free remodel with a company who can help you figure all of this out? Get in touch for your free, no obligation consultation about your home remodeling plans!
This is a sponsored column by attorneys John Berry and Kimberly Berry of Berry & Berry, PLLC, an employment and labor law firm located in Northern Virginia that specializes in federal employee, security clearance, retirement and private sector employee matters.
By John V. Berry, Esq.
We see many types of security clearance cases involving alcohol usage. The pandemic has not helped matters as many people have engaged in more alcohol usage while at home.
One of the most common issues that has arisen over the past few years in the context of security clearance holders or applicants involves alcohol abuse or over-consumption.
Alcohol Consumption/Abuse by Cleared Employees or Applicants
Under the security clearance guidelines, alcohol over-consumption and abuse can be a major factor in determining whether a person obtains or keeps their security clearance.
Security concerns regarding this issue fall under Adjudicative Guideline G, Alcohol Consumption of Security Executive Agency Directive (SEAD) 4. These are the guidelines that apply across the Government for security clearance holders.
Alcohol security concerns can come into play when an individual has a major alcohol-related incident. The most common issue that begins a security clearance review is a recent alcohol-related traffic incident, such as being arrested for driving under the influence. A recent event gives security clearance officials pause and makes them ask the question of whether or not it is an isolated incident or something more serious.
Security Concerns Raised by Alcohol Abuse or Consumption
When security clearance issues arise involving alcohol abuse or over-consumption, it is very important to take them seriously.
The major security concern for federal agencies that evaluate security clearances is that excessive alcohol consumption can lead to the use of questionable judgment or the failure to control impulses, both of which are not considered acceptable for purposes of access to classified information. As a result, the Government has listed alcohol-related concerns that could cause one to lose (or not get) a security clearance. Quoting from SEAD 4, these include:
“(a) alcohol-related incidents away from work, such as driving while under the influence, fighting, child or spouse abuse, disturbing the peace, or other incidents of concern, regardless of the frequency of the individual’s alcohol use or whether the individual has been diagnosed with alcohol use disorder
(b) alcohol-related incidents at work, such as reporting for work or duty in an intoxicated or impaired condition, drinking on the job, or jeopardizing the welfare and safety of others, regardless of whether the individual is diagnosed with alcohol use disorder
(c) habitual or binge consumption of alcohol to the point of impaired judgment, regardless of whether the individual is diagnosed with alcohol use disorder
(d) diagnosis by a duly qualified medical or mental health professional (e.g., physician, clinical psychologist, psychiatrist, or licensed clinical social worker) of alcohol use disorder
(e) the failure to follow treatment advice once diagnosed
(f) alcohol consumption, which is not in accordance with treatment recommendations, after a diagnosis of alcohol use disorder
(g) failure to follow any court order regarding alcohol education, evaluation, treatment, or abstinence.”
How to Mitigate Alcohol-Related Security Concerns
The Government has established a number of ways in which a security clearance holder or applicant can mitigate alcohol-related security concerns. They include, but are not limited to, the following:
- A significant amount of time has passed since the alcohol-related incident.
- The alcohol usage or related incident was unusual and/or is unlikely to happen again.
- The individual acknowledges their alcohol issue and provides evidence to show that they have overcome it or are seriously working on the alcohol issues through treatment.
- The individual has completed a treatment program and established a pattern of modified consumption or abstinence.
Alcohol consumption security clearance issues can involve many different variables so seeking experienced counsel is critical; every case is different. The key for successfully handling alcohol-related security clearance issues is to focus on them as early as possible.
Contact Us
If you are in need of security clearance law representation or advice, please contact our office at 703-668-0070 or through our contact page to schedule a consultation. Please also visit and like us on Facebook or Twitter.
Meet Buttons, a young Tortoiseshell and Domestic Medium Hair mix available for adoption locally.
Here is what her friends at Little Buddies Adoption and Humane Society have to say about her:
Check this beautiful Torti girl out!
Buttons is sweet, medium haired, a little fluffy and looks like a little fox when she runs! She purrs and nudges her foster family often and loves her foster brother, Romeo dearly. She is getting friendlier every day, she just needs to trust you first.
She likes to play with feather toys and ball toys. She was about 8 weeks old at the end of July.
Are you and Buttons a match?
Join EYA on August 12th at 7 p.m. for a VIP Virtual Preview Event to learn more about an exciting new neighborhood coming to Reston.
Arriving this summer, the Townhomes at Reston Station will offer modern design and sophisticated features, including personal in-home elevators (per plan), in a prized location just steps to the Metro. The new neighborhood will feature 115 townhomes with three distinctive floorplan options, landscaped parks, walkways, seating areas and open green spaces, a children’s playground and more.
This informational event will be the first opportunity to learn more about the vision for the neighborhood, view detailed floorplans, receive pricing on available homes and more.
By attending the event, you will also be among the first to choose priority time slots for one-on-one appointments and receive VIP event exclusive sales incentives.
At this virtual event you’ll be among the first to:
- Hear all about this exciting new EYA neighborhood in Reston
- See detailed floorplans, pricing and home availability on the only opportunity to own an elevator townhome in Reston
- Make real-time, one-on-one appointments to purchase your new home, or get answers to your questions
- Get VIP event exclusive sales incentives
You will also receive exclusive, early access to all of the materials discussed during the event, the full presentation to review at your leisure, and more.
To reserve your spot at the virtual VIP event, click here.
About the Townhomes at Reston Station
Less than a five-minute walk to Metro’s Silver Line at Wiehle-Reston East station, dining and retail, and many outdoor amenities, these new modern elevator townhomes are ideally situated at the crossroads of where you want to be and where you need to go.
To learn more about the Townhomes at Reston Station, click here.
About EYA
EYA doesn’t just build homes, we build neighborhoods. The exterior design and shared spaces ensure that you’ll enjoy a sense of place as well as space. Homes have been designed around an open lawn and landscaped green areas bordered by paths and outdoor amenities including a Bocce ball court, children’s play area and direct access to Faraday Park and Capital Bikeshare.
Meet Brownie, a male Chihuahua Mix available for adoption locally.
Here is what his friends at Fancy Cats Rescue Team have to say about him:
Brownie is a 2 year old male, 25 pound, mixed breed happy dog.
He is house trained and heart worm negative. Brownie loves to go for walks and walks well on a leash. He enjoys car rides too. He gets along well with other dogs and is very affectionate with the 3 kids he lives with now.
Brownie loves to snuggle with his people and loves a good belly rub. Brownie will make a great family dog and will be a happy addition to your family.
Are you and Brownie a match?
This is a sponsored column by attorneys John Berry and Kimberly Berry of Berry & Berry, PLLC, an employment and labor law firm located in Northern Virginia that specializes in federal employee, security clearance, retirement and private sector employee matters.
By John V. Berry, Esq.
The Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) is an appeals forum for federal employees and former federal employees to challenge various types of federal agency actions, such as serious disciplinary actions (adverse actions), retirement appeals, whistleblower matters and other types of cases. The most usual type of appeal for federal employees involves filing an appeal over a serious disciplinary action, such as removal from the federal service.
During an appeal a federal employee can choose to be represented by an attorney or not be. In almost all cases, however, the federal agency will be represented in the appeal by an attorney. This article discusses some of the reasons for retaining an attorney familiar with the MSPB process to assist you in an appeal. In other words, the reasons why it is important for a federal employee to retain an MSPB attorney. Here are some reasons why it is important for a federal employee to retain an MSPB lawyer for their appeal.
Federal Agencies Treat MSPB Cases Differently When an Employee Has an Attorney
One of the reasons why it is important to have an MSPB experienced attorney representing a federal employee is that it will very likely make a difference in how the federal agency treats the MSPB appeal at issue. Federal agencies allocate their attorney resources first to cases where an individual has their own attorney. Those cases tend to get the most attention because there are attorneys on both sides of the appeal.
In other words, where an appellant has their own attorney, the federal agency involved will focus more on that individual’s appeal merely because they have an attorney. This focus can help to settle MSPB appeals.
The MSPB Process is Much Like a Regular Court Case
One of the most important reasons why it is important to have an MSPB attorney represent a federal employee in the appeals process is the fact that it is a very serious type of appeal, functioning much like a court case. There is a general misperception that the process is designed for an employee to effectively represent themselves. An MSPB appeal functions much like a civil court case where there is discovery, the taking of depositions and the filing of briefs.
It is critical that an appellant have counsel to assist them in these difficult and sometimes complex processes. It is often the case where federal employees discovery this fact late and we are contacted after discovery deadlines have passed which can make appeals much more difficult to prevail in and/or settle. It is important to have an MSPB attorney early in the process.
Having an Attorney Can Increase the Chances of Settlement
Federal employees who retain attorneys in the MSPB process, in our experience, are more likely to resolve their MSPB appeals. Part of the calculation by federal agencies, in determining whether or not to settle MSPB cases has to do with risk. Federal agency attorneys evaluate the risk of losing an appeal (a risk which increases when an employee has an attorney), but also other types of risks including the risk of adverse information being disclosed through discovery.
Individuals without counsel can run across difficulties such as how to format discovery requests or take depositions which can limit the amount of critical information uncovered in an appeal. This can decrease the chances of settling an MSPB appeal. MSPB lawyers are also able to understand and work out the legal terms of a settlement agreement with federal agency counsel to minimize risk and to attempt to ensure compliance with settlement agreements.
