Former Union Steward Arrested For Representing Postal Employees in Legal Cases
According to court records former letter carrier and union steward Stephen Millard was arrested May 2, 2006.
Also, several years ago Millard was awarded over $450,000 (back pay and benefits) in an EEO case against USPS. Stephen Millard v. United States Postal Service
The following is an inquiry from William Brawner, a former postal employee and currently a California attorney:
I am an attorney in Ventura, California. I am representing a former USPS employee in an MSPB case. This person had previously been represented by Steven Millard. Here is where the story gets interesting.
Steven Millard is a former union steward. While employed by the Postal Service he began representing postal employees in MSPB and EEOC cases. He continued doing this after he left the employ of the Postal Service.
Earlier this year, he was arrested for allegedly violating 18 USC 205 and 18 USC 1001. These statutes were designed to prevent the conflict of interest inherent in having an attorney employed by the government sue the government in federal court on behalf of a third party.
They were not designed to prevent union stewards from representing co-workers in MSPB and EEOC cases. In fact, federal law specifically provides for co-worker representation in those types of cases.
Nevertheless, Mr. Millard was arrested for representing postal employees in MSPB and EEOC cases.
The untold story here is the impact of his arrest on his clients. The federal judge (Robert N. Block) ordered Mr. Millard to cease all contact with his clients. This means not only that Mr. Millard could no longer represent these people, but also he could not even tell them what had happened.
As a result, many of his clients were seriously harmed. Mr. Millard was not able to file documents with the MSPB and EEOC on time and his clients were uninformed about this. Even so, under current MSPB and EEOC case law, Mr. Millard’s clients are held responsible for Mr. Millard’s failures and, as a result, many such cases have or will be dismissed.
This is a tremendous injustice and one of the two actual goals of the Postal Service. What the Postal Service hopes to accomplish is: (1) cause Mr. Millard’s client to lose their cases and (2) scare union stewards and others in to not representing postal employees in future cases.
This needs to be stopped.
First, in the case that I am handling, I need someone with first-hand knowledge to come forward and confirm that the Postal Inspectors were behind Mr. Millard’s arrest.
Second, postal employees need to start a vigorous letter writing campaign to members of Congress and the news media protesting what happened to Mr. Millard. If the Postal Service wins against him, other cases will follow.
Bill Brawner
674 County Square Drive, Ste. 209-A
Ventura, CA 93003
(805) 642-0697
Legal cases of Postal Employees in Limbo
URGENT HELP PLEASE!
09-18-2006 - Dear fellow Postal employees, exception of management. l am in Desperate need of help. Does anyone know what happened to Mr. STEVE MILLARD. He was my previous representative. l was fired right out of mediation. Believe it! l have a attorney now.. The MSPB is in process of dismissing my case because the POSTAL INSPECTION SERVICE raided Steves Office in West Covina, California. So the Judge will dismiss my case by this Friday. My attorney is trying to help me and other carriers in the Los Angeles area. My attorney is a former Postal Employee and knows the B******* that management pulls. If you need an attorney please contact me at 818-399-0445. If you know what has happened with Steve Millard please contact me ASAP. My attorney is trying to make a difference for everyone. My e-mail address is _SIMONZTOY@AOL.COM_ (mailto:SIMONZTOY@AOL.COM) . My FAX is 818-951-1105
Thank you Simon Vanson
September 21st, 2006 at 6:20 am
WITH SATELLITE VOICE TRANSMITTERS ON THE FLOOR
THE PO IS RUNNING A CIRCUS NOT A BUSINESS!!!!
LV NEVADA
September 21st, 2006 at 4:35 pm
Thats all, just my name.
September 22nd, 2006 at 8:09 pm
Yes, it sounds like po is crooked, they are in charge of themselves because they are part of federal government. Not fair. I hope things turn around and get better for those in need.
September 23rd, 2006 at 5:22 pm
I know Steve Millard personally and he is being singled out by the Postal Inspection Service. What he is going through right now is unjustified and unfair. I am very interested in participating in any organized protest against the U.S.P.S. in favor of Mr. Millard.
September 24th, 2006 at 10:34 pm
I’M ON A MISSION! TO HELP STEVE MILLARD I’M ON IT NOW! ALONE OR WITH YOUR HELP. THE LETTERS,FAXES, PHONES CALLS,E-MAILS WILL BE GOING OUT TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE STARTING WITH LOCAL CONGRESSMAN, INCLUDING MEDIA.
AS A PERSIAN/ARMENIAN SERVING IN THE GULF WAR,I FIND MYSELF IN A WAR AGAIN, WITH THE USPS MANAGEMENT. I HATE TO SAY IT BUT AFTER LIVING IN THE U.S. SINCE 1967, THIS GOVERNMENT
“LACKS REALITY”.
GOD BLESS STEVE
SIMON
SIMONZTOY@AOL.COM
818-399-0445
September 25th, 2006 at 3:52 am
“These statutes were designed to prevent the conflict of interest inherent in having an attorney employed by the government sue the government in federal court on behalf of a third party.”
Is Mr Millard an attorney & did he become such while employed by th Service or was it after the fact. The article lacks finite details
September 25th, 2006 at 8:18 pm
I need an attorney for sexual harressement. Management did not follow their own Procedures
September 26th, 2006 at 7:48 pm
CONTACT ATTORNEY WILLIAM BRAWNER ABOVE MY HEADING.
September 27th, 2006 at 5:35 am
Did Steve Millard every pay his lawyer the money he owed him for winning the case against the US Postal Service and ordering the $450,000?
What goes around, may come around
Yes, amny Postal Managers are dishonest persons too.
September 27th, 2006 at 9:11 pm
The Postal Inspection service along with the Postal Legal Department are tired of losing a vast majority of the cases of clients being represented by Mr. Steve Millard. So they decide to cripple the impending losses by not allowing Mr. Millard to properly represent his clients. They are not concerned in the least about the countless number of clients in regards to their eventual stress and shock over their actions. We need representatives like Mr. Millard to give us an even playing field when it comes to fighting the corrupt Upper Management decisions that are based on falsehoods and assumptions. I have personally known Mr. Millard for over 20 yrs and will stand behind this man for I know what he stands for. The postal inspection service thinks they have found a way to stop the bleeding that is caused by Mr. Millards countless victories for his clients and is looking for a quick fix to their problem. The problem lies with many individuals filling managerial positions that don’t belong in them and this is evident in the the way they go after “Good” employees by abusing their authority. I personally have been subjected to horrible upper management accusations and know now that no matter what good you have done in the past and present that management will discard you without hesitation with made up lies. This is why representatives like Mr. Millard are vital to good working people. We need someone with the know how and ability to show managements shortcomings. Mr. Millard has justfully won settlements before and will once again win another because the Postal Service can care less about how much money is lost but rather they choose to focus on how many people they can hurt.
September 28th, 2006 at 11:39 pm
Tony H asked if Mr. Millard is an attorney.
The answer is no . . Mr. Millard is not an attorney. This is precisely the point. The Postal Service is deliberately MISUSING this law — designed with government attorneys in mind — to intimidate union stewards into not representing co-workers in MSPB and EEOC cases.
September 29th, 2006 at 2:28 am
Go get ‘em boys !!#@$$^@*!
September 29th, 2006 at 8:35 am
I’m deeply surprised that postalreporter has chosen to bury this on a back page instead of giving it the front page attention that it deserves. If the USPS beats Steve Millard down like this, then none of us will be able to to get help from union stewards ever again. Are we going the huddle in the dark corners muttering like mice . . . or are we going to take Mr. brawner’s advise and fight back for once?
September 29th, 2006 at 8:40 am
Maybe the folks at postalreporter are afraid of being raided by the postal inspectors the way Steve was!
September 29th, 2006 at 6:01 pm
Roger
This story was on the front page for several days. You can read the reponses by clicking on this link http://www.haloscan.com/comments/rehema/millardsept2006/
October 8th, 2006 at 12:48 pm
If he is not a lawyer and is representing people, isn’t he practicing law without a license.
October 23rd, 2006 at 7:33 pm
I’m sure this isn’t the first case. since USPS has hired attorneys to represent mgt. in EEO they have done everything possible to go after EEO Representatives who handle multiple cases. Especially those who are sucessful. And EEOC is backing the Postal Service by not addressing the issue of following the MD-110 with regard to “Official EEO Time” on the clock for processing and preparing complaints. No one is enforcing the rules to protect the complainants and their EEO Representatives. Very few Lawyers are willing to go after the USPS because of the USPS continued appeals with regard to attorney fees when the USPS loses a case. It’s not profitable enough for attorneys. It’s very difficult for the complainant to get a fair shake with regard to fighting USPS attorneys and the Administrative Judges on their own. Good Luck Please keep us informed. I’m an EEO Rep. on the East coast and i too have been reprised against.
October 27th, 2006 at 9:38 am
To whom it may concern
Steve Millard was my (Rep)until i read this information from the news letter of this web site.
Iam trying contact Sally (eeo issues. 707)
I appreciate someone’s assistance locating her.
I have untill October 31, 06 for postal mgnt, to honor my early Retirement.
About 5 mos ago we had wave an hearing and sign off without Prejudice. If not Granted early Retirement i could refile my case.
Appreciate your assistance
Sincerely
Donald Madison
October 29th, 2006 at 10:09 am
Anonymous Says:
October 8th, 2006 at 12:48 pm
If he is not a lawyer and is representing people, isn’t he practicing law without a license.
Actually, no. Federal law allows non-attorneys to represent employees before the EEOC and MSPB. Federal law, not state law, is controling here. Thus, he was not practicing law without a license.
October 29th, 2006 at 10:18 am
Someone out there wrote:
—————
I think you guys have missed the point. Brawner is the former employee-turned-lawyer and author of the article. The person arrested, Steve Millard, is a former employee and union steward, and is Brawner’s client. As a FORMER employee/steward Millard has no right representing Postal employees in a court of law (EEO & MSPB). When he was on the PO and union rolls, he could do this at the employee’s request. However, Millard is NOT a lawyer and has no right (or qualification) representing anyone but himself in before a court.
The tone of the article makes me question Brawner’s knowledge, skills, and expereince as a lawyer. I’d stay as far away from Brawner (and Millard for that matter) as possible.
—————
Whoever wrote that is either an idiot or a postal inspector.
He has got everything backwards and clearly hasn’t clue as to what he is talking about.
1. Millard isn’t Brawner’s client.
2. Millard wasn’t practicing law without a license — he was just doing something the law says anuone can do and something many union stewards do every day.
3. Brawner is an excellent lawyer — one of the few with the guts to stand up to the Postal Service.
So beware of the propaganda planted against him and Millard by the Postal Inspectors! They are getting scare that postal workers might frow a brain and fight back.
November 29th, 2006 at 10:06 pm
Is Steve in jail yet? Bubba wants a new wife. Oh how great he will look in 5″ spike heels!
January 17th, 2007 at 9:46 am
For those of you who claim to know Steve Millard, why don’t you tell the truth about him. First of all his office was in Covina not West Covina. If you are/were a “client” of his you would know this. Sergio, you can organize or participate in whatever kind of protest you wish…it will not change what YOU did to get demoted. Millard would not have been able to save you from yourself. Simon, Congress can not help Millard unless they change the laws which Millard has never believed apply to him. Adam, if you know Millard like you say you do then you would realize that he does NOT win a vast majority of his cases. The records speak for themselves. Just ask the many people that have allowed Millard to mis-represent them at great expense. As for corruption by Upper Management, well let’s just say YOU have first hand knowledge of corruption by Lower Management. Thank you Roger for setting the record straight, at least SOMEONE on here is honest. Let us call it what it is, Millard is a scumbag who got caught with his hand in the cookie jar, much like some of you who are defending him. I have also know Millard for around 20 years and I can personally vouch for the fact that he got what he had coming to him.
February 28th, 2007 at 7:14 am
I have met and know people who know this guy he is a POS. He defrauded the USPS of $450K and he wasn’t even a decent worker. If all you zero’s just stopped whinning and came to work and worked we’d all be better off. Since when is the company liable for your dumb life choices? Wake up and smell the termination notices for failure to complete your contract with the USPS. 8 hrs pay for 8 hrs wk. Silly rabbit….
December 4th, 2007 at 2:21 am
l am soo freaking glad i dont work for the usps anymore, lm enjoying klife in Thailand at the age of 42. HA! PO. I WIN!!!
December 23rd, 2007 at 1:42 am
After a few decades of fighting the USPS, and waiting to prevail (which might be never)..here is what I don’t understand.
If the USPS paid out $450,000.00, (which does not happen everyday) why woulnd’t you just take the money and run?
April 30th, 2008 at 7:52 am
Frankly Im tired of the union. the union only respresent lazy people who cant do a simple job, deliver mail. Im a hard working employee who watches his lazy union stewart filing silly grievances in the air conditioning while im doing my route and half of his peanut route. Fed up