Byrum v. Office of Personnel Management

PLAGER, Circuit Judge.

This case involves determining the rightful claimant to certain death benefits attributable to the service of a deceased federal employee. The employee’s spouse, who ordinarily would be entitled to the benefits, has been held civilly responsible for the employee’s death. Ordered in the civil action to assign the benefits to Stephanie Byrum, daughter of the deceased employee and petitioner in this appeal, the employee’s spouse subsequently executed the ordered assignment. Petitioner By-rum made claim to the death benefits.

The Office of Personnel Management (“OPM”) denied…