Case: Civil Servant 1 v. U.S. Office of Special Counsel

1:25-cv-03107 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: Sept. 10, 2025

Case Ongoing

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Case Summary

This case is about changes implemented by the executive to the Office of Special Counsel (OSC), followed by a marked reversal of policy around federal employees' labor protections. On September 10, 2025, five anonymous civil servants filed suit against the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) and the Acting Director of OSC in U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia. Plaintiffs alleged that OSC closed more than 2,000 active complaints, denying these employees any meaningful review in violatio…

This case is about changes implemented by the executive to the Office of Special Counsel (OSC), followed by a marked reversal of policy around federal employees' labor protections.

On September 10, 2025, five anonymous civil servants filed suit against the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) and the Acting Director of OSC in U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia. Plaintiffs alleged that OSC closed more than 2,000 active complaints, denying these employees any meaningful review in violation of the OSC's obligation to investigate allegations of retaliation and prohibited personnel practices (PPPs). Filing under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), plaintiffs sought declaratory judgment, a vacatur of the Probationary Directive and all Closure Notices issued pursuant to it, and an order OSC to reopen and investigate PPP complaints submitted by probationary employees in a manner consistent with its statutory obligations under title 5 and applicable law. Plaintiffs are represented by Democracy Forward. This case is assigned to Judge Carl J. Nichols.

In an order on October 6, 2025, the Court denied plaintiffs’ Motion to Proceed Pseudonymously. They found that plaintiffs failed to meet their burden to show that their privacy interests outweigh the public’s presumptive and substantial interest in learning their identities. The Court decided that within fourteen days of the Court’s Order, plaintiffs must file a Notice advising the Clerk of the Court whether they wish to proceed with filing their Complaint on the public docket using their real names, and, if so, they must also file their Motion on the public docket as an appendix to the Notice; and, if plaintiffs did not file such Notice within fourteen days, the Clerk would be directed to terminate the case.

On October 20, 2025, Morgan A. Saladino and Cheryl A. Healy refiled their initial complaint with the Court.

This case is ongoing.

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Summary Authors

Claire Pollard (11/11/2025)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71308223/parties/saladino-v-us-office-of-special-counsel/

Judge(s)

Nichols, Carl John (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Goldstein, Elena (District of Columbia)

Martinez, Michael C. (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Newman, Jeremy Samuel (District of Columbia)

Judge(s)

Nichols, Carl John (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Goldstein, Elena (District of Columbia)

Martinez, Michael C. (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Newman, Jeremy Samuel (District of Columbia)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

	Document
1 1:25-cv-03107	Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief Civil Servant 1 et al. v. U.S. Office of Special Counsel et al.	Sept. 10, 2025	Sept. 10, 2025 Complaint
12 1:25-cv-03107	Memorandum Opinion and Order Civil Servant 1 v. Office of Special Counsel	Oct. 6, 2025	Oct. 6, 2025 Order/Opinion 2025 WL 2829161
14 1:25-cv-03107	Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief Saladino v. Office of Special Counsel	Oct. 20, 2025	Oct. 20, 2025 Complaint

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Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71308223/saladino-v-us-office-of-special-counsel/

Last updated Nov. 25, 2025, 3:12 p.m.

ECF Number	Description	Date	Link Date / Link
1	COMPLAINT against JAMIESON GREER, U.S. OFFICE OF SPECIAL COUNSEL ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-11946625) filed by CIVIL SERVANT 4, CIVIL SERVANT 1, CIVIL SERVANT 3, CIVIL SERVANT 2, CIVIL SERVANT 5. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C, # 4 Exhibit D, # 5 Exhibit E, # 6 Exhibit F, # 7 Exhibit G, # 8 Exhibit H, # 9 Exhibit I, # 10 Civil Cover Sheet, # 11 Summons, # 12 Summons)(Martinez, Michael) (Entered: 09/10/2025) 1 Exhibit A View on RECAP 2 Exhibit B View on RECAP 3 Exhibit C View on RECAP 4 Exhibit D View on RECAP 5 Exhibit E View on RECAP 6 Exhibit F View on RECAP 7 Exhibit G View on RECAP 8 Exhibit H View on RECAP 9 Exhibit I View on RECAP 10 Civil Cover Sheet View on PACER 11 Summons View on PACER 12 Summons View on PACER	Sept. 10, 2025	Sept. 10, 2025 Clearinghouse
2	ERRATA by CIVIL SERVANT 1, CIVIL SERVANT 2, CIVIL SERVANT 3, CIVIL SERVANT 4, CIVIL SERVANT 5 re 1 Complaint,. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C, # 4 Exhibit D, # 5 Exhibit E, # 6 Exhibit F, # 7 Exhibit G, # 8 Exhibit H, # 9 Exhibit I, # 10 Civil Cover Sheet, # 11 Summons, # 12 Summons, # 13 Summons, # 14 Summons)(Martinez, Michael) (Entered: 09/10/2025) 1 Exhibit A View on PACER 2 Exhibit B View on PACER 3 Exhibit C View on PACER 4 Exhibit D View on PACER 5 Exhibit E View on PACER 6 Exhibit F View on PACER 7 Exhibit G View on PACER 8 Exhibit H View on PACER 9 Exhibit I View on PACER 10 Civil Cover Sheet View on PACER 11 Summons View on PACER 12 Summons View on PACER 13 Summons View on PACER 14 Summons View on PACER	Sept. 10, 2025	Sept. 10, 2025
3	REQUEST FOR SUMMONS TO ISSUE filed by CIVIL SERVANT 4, CIVIL SERVANT 1, CIVIL SERVANT 3, CIVIL SERVANT 2, CIVIL SERVANT 5. (Attachments: # 1 Summons)(Martinez, Michael) (Entered: 09/10/2025)	Sept. 10, 2025	Sept. 10, 2025
4	SUMMONS (4) Issued Electronically as to JAMIESON GREER, U.S. OFFICE OF SPECIAL COUNSEL, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zmtm) (Entered: 09/10/2025)	Sept. 10, 2025	Sept. 10, 2025
	Notice of Error- New Case	Sept. 10, 2025	Sept. 10, 2025
	NOTICE OF NEW CASE ERROR The following error(s) need correction: Missing summonses- U.S. government. When naming a U.S. government agent or agency as a defendant, you must supply a summons for each defendant & two additional summonses for the U.S. Attorney & U.S. Attorney General. Please submit using the event Request for Summons to Issue. Invalid signature - Complaint. Please file the signed document using the event Errata. All filings must have an original signature or /s/ Attorney Name to represent an electronic signature of the filer. COMPLIANCE DEADLINE is by close of business today. This case will not proceed any further until all errors are satisfied. (zmtm)	Sept. 10, 2025	Sept. 10, 2025
	Case Assigned/Reassigned	Sept. 10, 2025	Sept. 10, 2025
	Case Assigned to Judge Carl J. Nichols. (zmtm)	Sept. 10, 2025	Sept. 10, 2025
	ENTERED IN ERROR.....Case Assigned to Judge Carl J. Nichols. (zmtm) Modified on 10/21/2025; case assigned prematurely, pseudonymous motion required. (znmw).	Sept. 10, 2025	Sept. 10, 2025
5	SEALED MOTION to Proceed Under Pseudonym filed by CIVIL SERVANT 1, CIVIL SERVANT 2, CIVIL SERVANT 3, CIVIL SERVANT 4, CIVIL SERVANT 5 (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support, # 2 Declaration of Civil Servant 1, # 3 Declaration of Civil Servant 2, # 4 Declaration of Civil Servant 3, # 5 Declaration of Civil Servant 4, # 6 Declaration of Civil Servant 5, # 7 Text of Proposed Order)(Martinez, Michael) (Entered: 09/12/2025)	Sept. 12, 2025	Sept. 12, 2025
6	NOTICE of Appearance by Elena Goldstein on behalf of CIVIL SERVANT 1, CIVIL SERVANT 2, CIVIL SERVANT 3, CIVIL SERVANT 4, CIVIL SERVANT 5 (Goldstein, Elena) (Entered: 09/17/2025)	Sept. 17, 2025	Sept. 17, 2025
7	RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 9/19/2025. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 11/18/2025. (Martinez, Michael) (Entered: 09/26/2025)	Sept. 26, 2025	Sept. 26, 2025
8	RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 09/19/2025. (Martinez, Michael) (Entered: 09/26/2025)	Sept. 26, 2025	Sept. 26, 2025
9	RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. OFFICE OF SPECIAL COUNSEL served on 9/19/2025 (Martinez, Michael) (Entered: 09/26/2025)	Sept. 26, 2025	Sept. 26, 2025
10	RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. JAMIESON GREER served on 9/19/2025 (Martinez, Michael) (Entered: 09/26/2025)	Sept. 26, 2025	Sept. 26, 2025
11	NOTICE of Appearance by Jeremy Samuel Bloch Newman on behalf of All Defendants (Newman, Jeremy) (Entered: 09/30/2025)	Sept. 30, 2025	Sept. 30, 2025 RECAP
12	MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER: The Court ORDERS that: 1) Plaintiffs' 5 Motion to Proceed Pseudonymously is DENIED; 2) Within fourteen days of the Court's Order, Plaintiffs shall file a Notice advising the Clerk of the Court whether they wi sh to proceed with filing their Complaint on the public docket using their real names, and, if so, they shall also file their 5 Motion on the public docket as an appendix to the Notice; and 3) If Plaintiffs do not file such Notice within fourteen days, the Clerk is directed to terminate the case. Signed by Chief Judge James E. Boasberg on October 6, 2025. (lcjeb1) (Main Document 12 replaced on 10/6/2025) (znbn).	Oct. 6, 2025	Oct. 6, 2025 Clearinghouse
13	NOTICE by CIVIL SERVANT 1, CIVIL SERVANT 2, CIVIL SERVANT 3, CIVIL SERVANT 4, CIVIL SERVANT 5 re 12 Order,,, Set Deadlines,,, Memorandum & Opinion,, (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit (Motion to Proceed Pseudonymously), # 2 Exhibit (Mem. ISO Motion), # 3 Exhibit (Combined Declarations), # 4 Exhibit (Proposed Order for Motion))(Martinez, Michael) (Entered: 10/20/2025)	Oct. 20, 2025	Oct. 20, 2025
14	COMPLAINT against JAMIESON GREER, U.S. OFFICE OF SPECIAL COUNSEL (Fee Status:Filing Fee Waived) filed by MORGAN A. SALADINO, CHERYL A. HEALY. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C, # 4 Exhibit D, # 5 Exhibit E, # 6 Exhibit F, # 7 Exhibit G, # 8 Exhibit H, # 9 Exhibit I, # 10 Summons, # 11 Summons, # 12 Summons, # 13 Summons)(Martinez, Michael) (Entered: 10/20/2025) 1 Exhibit A View on PACER 2 Exhibit B View on PACER 3 Exhibit C View on PACER 4 Exhibit D View on PACER 5 Exhibit E View on PACER 6 Exhibit F View on PACER 7 Exhibit G View on PACER 8 Exhibit H View on PACER 9 Exhibit I View on PACER 10 Summons View on PACER 11 Summons View on PACER 12 Summons View on PACER 13 Summons View on PACER	Oct. 20, 2025	Oct. 20, 2025 Clearinghouse
	Notice of Error	Oct. 20, 2025	Oct. 20, 2025
	Case Assigned/Reassigned	Oct. 20, 2025	Oct. 20, 2025
	Case Assigned to Judge Carl J. Nichols. (znmw) Modified on 10/21/2025 to correct assignment. (znmw).	Oct. 20, 2025	Oct. 20, 2025
	NOTICE OF ERROR regarding 1 Complaint. The following error(s) need correction: Please refile the Complaint and Summons to include the plaintiffs' true names. (znmw)	Oct. 20, 2025	Oct. 20, 2025
15	SUMMONS (4) Issued Electronically as to JAMIESON GREER, U.S. OFFICE OF SPECIAL COUNSEL, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zmtm) (Main Document 15 replaced on 10/21/2025) (zmtm). (Entered: 10/21/2025)	Oct. 21, 2025	Oct. 21, 2025
16	Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer re 14 Complaint, by JAMIESON GREER, U.S. OFFICE OF SPECIAL COUNSEL. (Newman, Jeremy) (Entered: 11/20/2025)	Nov. 20, 2025	Nov. 20, 2025
17	Summons Returned Executed as to Federal Defendant	Nov. 21, 2025	Nov. 21, 2025
18	Summons Returned Executed as to Federal Defendant	Nov. 21, 2025	Nov. 21, 2025
19	Summons Returned Executed as to U.S. Attorney General	Nov. 21, 2025	Nov. 21, 2025
20	Summons Returned Executed as to US Attorney	Nov. 21, 2025	Nov. 21, 2025
	MINUTE ORDER. Defendants' 16 Consent Motion for Extension of Time is GRANTED. Defendants shall respond to Plaintiffs' Complaint on or before January 7, 2026. If Defendants respond by filing a motion to dismiss, Plaintiffs shall file a response on or before February 2, 2026, and Defendants shall file a reply on or before February 17, 2026. So ORDERED by Judge Carl J. Nichols on 11/21/2025. (lccjn3)	Nov. 21, 2025	Nov. 21, 2025
	Order on Motion for Extension of Time to Answer AND Set/Reset Deadlines	Nov. 21, 2025	Nov. 21, 2025