[Decision Concerning BPA Employee's Entitlement to Reimbursement for Real Estate Sale Expenses]

The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) requested a decision regarding a transferred employee's claim for full reimbursement for real estate expenses he incurred incident to the sale of his residence. BPA advised that the claimant's wife: (1) also held title to the property; and (2) filed for bankruptcy prior to settlement, assigning her interest in the property to the bankruptcy trustee. GAO held that the claimant was entitled to reimbursement for only half of the real estate sale expenses, since the claimant and the trustee, who was not a member of his immediate family, equally shared the sale costs and proceeds. Accordingly, the claim was allowed in part.