________________________

                               April 3, 1997
                         ________________________


                             GSBCA 14074-RELO


                   In the Matter of GRETCHEN F. RIDGEWAY


     Gretchen F. Ridgeway, Springfield, VA, Claimant.

     Patricia A. Leonard, Affirmative and Personnel Claims Branch,
Investigations and Tort Litigation Division, Office of the Judge
Advocate General, Department of the Navy, Alexandria, VA, appearing
for Department of Defense.  

HYATT, Board Judge.

     Claimant, Dr. Gretchen F. Ridgeway, a Department of Defense
(DOD) employee, was stationed with the DOD Office of Dependents
Education (DODDS) in Germany for eleven years.  When her position
in Germany was slated to be abolished, Dr. Ridgeway was offered a
position with DODDS in Arlington, VA, which she accepted.  Her
household goods were shipped to the United States by Government
bill of lading (GBL).  Significant theft, as well as damage, was
discovered when the household goods were unpacked in the United
States.  The amount requested by Dr. Ridgeway to compensate for
theft and damage of household goods is approximately $10,000.  DOD
has allowed $3,251 for loss and damage.  By letter dated January
7, 1997, Dr. Ridgeway submitted her claim to the General Accounting
Office (GAO) for review.  Her claim was forwarded by GAO to the
Board on January 24, 1997.

     On February 20, 1997, DOD filed its response to Dr. Ridgeway's
claim.  That response states that the Board has no authority to
review a claim for loss and damage to household goods.  DOD's
position is correct.  The Board has recently addressed this issue
in Charles A. Miller, GSBCA 13859-RELO (Feb. 19, 1997), which
included a claim for damage to property transported by a carrier:

     [This] claim . . . is not within our delegated authority,
     which is to settle claims by federal civilian employees
     for relocation expenses incident to transfers of official
     duty station. . . .  Section 3702(a) of Title 31 [of the
     United States Code] provides . . . the authority to
     settle claims "except as provided in . . . another law."
     . . .  Claims by employees for loss or damage incident to
     service are covered by another law -- the Military
     Personnel and Civilian Employees' Claims Act, 31 U.S.C.
      3721 (1994).  That Act (1) vests claims settlement
     authority with agency heads, 31 U.S.C.  3721(b); (2)
     provides that the settlement is final and conclusive, 31
     U.S.C.  3721(k); and (3) is considered to be the
     exclusive remedy for federal employees, who may not file
     a suit under the Federal Tort Claims Act.  See Talstrom
     v. United States, 3 Cl. Ct. 106, 107 (1983).  Further, a
     claim for loss or damage is a claim for a tort, not a
     claim for an expense incident to a transfer of official
     duty station.

     Accordingly, this claim is dismissed.





                                        ___________________________
                                        CATHERINE B. HYATT
                                        Board Judge