2012-UNAT-198, Meron
UNAT noted that UNDT correctly stated that the former UN Administrative Tribunal considered and rejected all of the Appellant’s other pleas and that for this reason, the matter of interest was res judicata. UNAT also noted that UNDT ordered the Secretary-General to make a payment of USD 25,000 as compensation for the excessive and inordinate delays and the emotional harm and to arrange for a Medical Board to consider outstanding invoices. UNAT found that, as the Secretary-General did not appeal, he had therefore accepted the UNDT’s decision and financial award. UNAT held that UNDT’s decision was final. UNAT dismissed the appeal.
The Applicant contested the decision to reject her plea for payment of USD 25,863. 40, representing “underpayment” of her disability benefit under Appendix D to the Staff Rules. UNDT determined that the Respondent had correctly calculated the amount of her Appendix D disability benefit in US dollars, consequently, there was no issue of underpayment.
The authority of a final judgment cannot be readily set aside. There must be an end to litigation and the stability of the judicial process requires that final judgments by an appellate court not be set aside unless for the gravest of reasons. Once a judgment is executable, either party may apply to UNDT for an order for execution of the judgment if the judgment requires execution within a certain period of time and such execution has not been carried out.