B-166514, JUN 15, 1972

B-166514, JUN 15, 1972

GENERAL GOVERNMENT MATTERS - REQUEST FOR RELIEF FROM LIABILITY DECISION ALLOWING RELIEF FROM LIABILITY TO STANLEY A. GRENDEL, POSTMASTER, TAYLOR, MICHIGAN, FOR A DEFICIENCY RESULTING FROM SHORTAGES IN THE FIXED CREDITS OF TWO WINDOW CLERKS. SINCE ALL REASONABLE ATTEMPTS TO COLLECT THE DEBT HAVE PROVED UNSUCCESSFUL, IT MAY NOW BE DECLARED UNCOLLECTIBLE AND MR. GRENDEL'S ACCOUNTABILITY MAY BE REMOVED.

TO MR. POSTMASTER GENERAL:

REFERENCE IS MADE TO THE LETTER OF MARCH 14, 1972, 9136-AHB:BB, FROM THE POSTAL DATA CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, REQUESTING FURTHER CONSIDERATION OF OUR LETTER DATED AUGUST 31, 1971, DENYING RELIEF OF MR. STANLEY A. GRENDEL, POSTMASTER, TAYLOR, MICHIGAN, OF LIABILITY TO COLLECT FOR A DEFICIENCY OF $120.46 IN HIS ACCOUNTS RESULTING FROM SHORTAGES IN THE FIXED CREDITS OF TWO WINDOW CLERKS.

THE DIRECTOR OF THE POSTAL DATA CENTER REPORTS THAT MR. GRENDEL HAS COLLECTED $68.61 FROM THE WIDOW OF DECEASED CLERK E. VARCIE, THE AMOUNT OF LOSS FOR WHICH MR. VARCIE WAS RESPONSIBLE.

THE DIRECTOR ALSO REPORTS THAT MR. GRENDEL INTERVIEWED THE REMAINING LIABLE CLERK, JAMES FORMAN, ON SEPTEMBER 29, 1971, AND PRESENTED MR. FORMAN WITH AN INVOICE AND STATEMENT, FORM 1903, IN THE AMOUNT OF $51.85. MR. GRENDEL LATER MADE A TELEPHONIC DEMAND FOR THE SHORTAGE ON OCTOBER 26, 1971, AND ON NOVEMBER 4, 1971, DISPATCHED A CERTIFIED LETTER TO MR. FORMAN, THE RETURN RECEIPT BEING SIGNED BY MR. FORMAN. THE POSTAL DATA CENTER ALSO MADE DEMAND ON MR. FORMAN BY LETTER DATED NOVEMBER 23, 1971. THE DIRECTOR FURTHER INFORMED US THAT THE UNITED BONDING INSURANCE COMPANY, THE ORGANIZATION WHICH HAD FURNISHED MR. FORMAN'S BOND, IS NO LONGER A VIABLE ENTITY AND IS IN THE HANDS OF RECEIVERSHIP, THE LIKELIHOOD OF COLLECTION ON THE BOND BEING DUBIOUS AT BEST.

THE DIRECTOR HAS NOTED THAT, SINCE THE LOSS IS ONLY INDIRECTLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO MR. GRENDEL AND THE RECORD INDICATES AMPLE EVIDENCE OF ATTEMPTS TO COLLECT THE REMAINING AMOUNT, MR. GRENDEL SHOULD BE RELIEVED OF ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE DEFICIENCY OF MR. FORMAN'S FIXED ACCOUNT OF $51.85.

IN VIEW OF THE ABOVE, IT APPEARS THAT DILIGENT EFFORTS HAVE BEEN MADE BY MR. GRENDEL TO COLLECT THE REMAINING DEBT. SINCE ALL REASONABLE ATTEMPTS HAVE PROVEN UNSUCCESSFUL, THE DEBT DUE THE GOVERNMENT AS A RESULT OF MR. FORMAN'S ACTIONS MAY NOW BE DECLARED UNCOLLECTIBLE, COLLECTION ACTION THEREON MAY BE TERMINATED, AND MR. GRENDEL'S ACCOUNTABILITY TO COLLECT MAY BE REMOVED.