If you hold a security clearance and are involved in a civil court case – even a seemingly trivial one – you’re required to report that information to your security officer. This falls under the broader category of “self-reporting” where adjudicatively relevant life events should be reported back to a security officer.
Why did the general contractor break up with his calculator? Because he couldn’t handle the division anymore… just like this ClearaneJobsBlog subscriber:
“Had some work done to my home. Person failed to meet the standards so we both signed an agreement that we would get our money back and go our separate ways. Got my money back from the credit card company but it wasnt the full agreed upon amount. Guy says it is and is upset I wont take down my reviews even tho he is $220 short on contract obligations and put in a small claims case against me for breaching contract I guess.
Plan to just bite the $220 and remove the reviews for him to get the case dismissed as I rather not deal with a headache over $220… But my question is I haven’t received anything yet for a court summons so if i can get him to put in a dismissal do I still need to even advise my FSO? Should I just to be safe?”
One investigator notes, “Anything that is required to be listed on the SF-86 needs to be reported. If you don’t report it, when your next investigation roles around they will want to know why this was not reported.”
The SF-86 says “In the last 10 years have you been party to any public record civil court action not listed elsewhere on this form?”
It is better to self report when in doubt.
Key points about self-reporting small claims:
- Duty to report: As a security clearance holder, you have a legal obligation to report any significant life events, including civil lawsuits, even if they are small claims cases.
- Why it matters: While a small claims case might seem insignificant, it could be reviewed by security officials to assess potential vulnerabilities like financial instability, personal conflicts, or susceptibility to coercion.
- When to report: You should report a small claims lawsuit as soon as you become involved in one, even if it is still ongoing.
- How to report: Contact your facility security officer and provide details about the case, including the nature of the claim, the parties involved, and the current status.
A small claims case is incredibly unlikely to result in any clearance issues. Better to self report and be safe than withhold the information and face scrutiny later.
Much about the clearance process resembles the Pirate’s Code: “more what you’d call guidelines than actual rules.” This case-by-case system is meant to consider the whole person, increase process security, and allow the lowest-risk/highest-need candidates to complete the process. This article is intended as general information only and should not be construed as legal advice. Consult an attorney regarding your specific situation.
