Adam R. Steigert

Steigert was born in Hamburg, New York on December 31, 1986. He formed the production company DefTone Pictures Studios with Stephanie Wlosinski, writing and directing the 2008 film Bitez and the 2009 film Gore. In 2014, Steigert directed, co-wrote, and co-edited the comedy horror film A Grim Becoming. Steigert then directed, co-wrote, and produced the 2017 film STAR [Space Traveling Alien Reject]. His next project, a werewolf-based horror film titled Fang, released in 2018. He then created a horror team up known as The Horrific Evil Monsters. After the release of The Horrific Evil Monsters, Steigert, under the direction of 388 Studios, produced and directed a spin-off series focusing on the Grim Reapers 9 to 5, entitled A Grim Mini Series: Final Fracture. In 2021 Steigert began writing a sequel to his film Ombis 2: Alien Awakening, slated for a 2026 release, which follows the story of Haley trying to expose the government's Metzburgh cover-up only to find the invasion isn't over and something is awakening. ==Legal proceedings==

In addition to his work as an independent filmmaker, Adam R. Steigert has pursued multiple legal actions connected to his federal employment. Acting pro se, Steigert has simultaneously managed cases before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. == Merit Systems Protection Board proceedings ==

On June 25, 2025, Administrative Judge Jennifer Pao issued an Initial Decision in a separate MSPB appeal filed by Steigert, docketed as PH-3443-25-1394-I-1. The appeal challenged a series of personnel actions including a job-offer rescission, non-selection, denial of reasonable accommodation, reassignment, the rescission of a temporary promotion, a five-day suspension, performance evaluation disputes, and allegations of retaliation related to prior EEO activity. Judge Pao found that these actions did not constitute appealable adverse actions under 5 U.S.C. § 7512 and therefore did not fall within the Board's Chapter 75 jurisdiction. == Merit Systems Protection Board proceedings ==

In September 2025, Steigert filed an appeal with the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) challenging alleged retaliatory personnel actions by the Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service. The appeal was docketed as Steigert v. Department of the Treasury, MSPB Case No. PH-0752-25-2249-I-1, and assigned to Administrative Judge Jennifer Pao of the Northeastern Regional Office. Key docket activity includes: • September 30, 2025 – Initial Appeal filed (Tab 1). • September 30, 2025 – Appellant's Exhibits filed (Tab 3). • October 1, 2025 – Supplemental Notice submitting additional evidence, including a May 30, 2025 email exchange with agency counsel (Tab 4). • October 27, 2025 – Motion for Sanctions, alleging continued noncompliance by agency representatives (Tab 6). • October 27, 2025 – Filing of supplemental exhibits documenting shutdown-related correspondence and compliance issues (Tabs 5–6). • November 13, 2025 – Submission of a summary of testimony from the September 25, 2025 WDNY TRO hearing, filed in support of the MSPB appeal (Tab 7). • November 17, 2025 – Notice of Judicial Authority and Federal Injunction Conflict, referencing overlapping issues between MSPB proceedings and federal injunction orders (Tab 8). • November 17, 2025 – Supplemental Statement of Facts and Request for Protective Actions filed (Tab 9). • November 20, 2025 – **Order Rescheduling Deadlines** issued by Administrative Judge Jennifer Pao, extending the agency's response deadline to December 12, 2025, and setting December 22, 2025 as the deadline for discovery-related filings. • November 20, 2025 – Appellant's Notice of New Retaliatory Personnel Action filed, addressing the FY 2025 annual performance evaluation (Tab 11). As of late November 2025, the appeal remains pending before the MSPB, with ongoing disputes concerning alleged retaliatory actions, federal injunction conflicts, and compliance issues raised across multiple forums. == United States District Court proceedings (Western District of New York) ==

Western District of New York proceedings In September 2025, Steigert filed Steigert v. Bessent et al., Case No. 1:25-cv-00820, in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, alleging breach of contract and retaliation by officials within the Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service. The matter was assigned to District Judge John L. Sinatra Jr. and referred to Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer for pre-trial management. Key docket activity includes: • September 12, 2025 – Emergency motion for temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction filed. • September 22, 2025 – Motion for sanctions filed. • September 25, 2025 – Oral argument held before Judge Sinatra. • September 29, 2025 – Emergency motion for protective order filed. • October 16, 2025 – Notice of related judicial development filed, referencing a nationwide injunction in American Federation of Government Employees et al. v. Office of Management and Budget et al. (N.D. Cal. 25-cv-08302-SI). • October 17, 2025 – Notice of supplemental authority filed. • October 31, 2025 – Notice of continuing violation and non-compliance with court filings filed. • November 3, 2025 – Motion for contempt and enforcement of court authority (ECF No. 24) filed, alleging continued agency non-compliance with prior court orders. • November 4, 2025 – Official transcript of the September 25 hearing filed (ECF No. 25); restricted for 90 days, with public release scheduled for February 2, 2026. • November 10, 2025 – The U.S. Attorney's Office filed a Response in Opposition to the Motion for Contempt and Sanctions (ECF No. 26) and a supporting Declaration of Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. Cerrone (ECF No. 27). That same day, Steigert filed a Supplemental Motion for Civil Contempt and Enforcement of Federal Court Orders (ECF No. 28), adding an IRS executive as a respondent and alleging continued reliance on the Deferred Resignation Program (DRP) following nationwide injunctions issued on October 16 and October 28, 2025, by Judge Susan Illston in American Federation of Government Employees et al. v. Office of Management and Budget et al. (N.D. Cal. 25-cv-08302-SI), which temporarily barred all federal agencies from implementing shutdown-related Reduction in Force (RIF) or DRP actions. • November 13, 2025 – Second Supplemental Motion for Civil Contempt and Post-Reopening Enforcement of Federal Injunctions filed (ECF No. 29). • November 18, 2025 – Third Supplemental Motion for Civil Contempt and for Immediate Post-Reopening Enforcement Actions filed (ECF No. 30). • November 19, 2025 – Fourth Supplemental Motion for Civil Contempt and Notice of Continuing Post-Injunction Violations filed (ECF No. 32). Later that day, Magistrate Judge Roemer issued a text order setting deadlines for briefing on the government's Motion to Dismiss and its opposition to the plaintiff's TRO motion, with Steigert's response due December 12, 2025, and replies due January 2, 2026 (ECF No. 31). • November 21, 2025 – Fifth Supplemental Motion for Civil Contempt filed (ECF No. 33), alleging retaliatory timekeeping interference, AWOL threats, and continuing violations of federal injunctions. As of late November 2025, the contempt motions, supplemental contempt filings, and pending sanctions issues remain before Judge Sinatra. ==See also==

On October 20, 2025, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued a non-precedential order in Steigert v. Merit Systems Protection Board, No. 25-1906. The appeal raised claims under the Whistleblower Protection Act, the Civil Service Reform Act, and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, alleging procedural misconduct by agency counsel and delays in compliance with prior settlements. The court granted the petitioner's motion for leave to file a reply but dismissed the petition for review without prejudice for lack of a final Board decision, noting that the MSPB had dismissed the underlying case "subject to automatic refiling in January 2026." All pending motions were terminated as moot. ==See also==

Steigert is known for creating interconnected independent horror, science fiction, and dark comedy films often referred to collectively as part of his "Goreverse." Below is a selection of his written, directed, and produced works: • Bitez (2008) – horror short; debut feature under DefTone Pictures Studios • Gore (2009) – splatter horror; director and producer • Pigman vs. Gore (short, 2010) – crossover short continuing the "Gore" storyline • Prisoners of the Dead (2011) – zombie action film; director and producer • Ombis: Alien Invasion (2013) – science fiction horror distributed by Best Buy and Walmart • To Release a Soul (short, 2013) – supernatural drama short • Caged (short, 2013) – psychological horror; co-written and directed • A Grim Becoming (2014) – dark comedy horror exploring the life of the Grim Reaper • The Making of A Grim Becoming (short, 2014) – behind-the-scenes documentary • STAR (Space Traveling Alien Reject) (2017) – science fiction comedy about an alien outcast • Fang (2018) – werewolf horror feature starring Melodie Roehrig and Gregory Blair • Homicidal Vengeance (2020) – grindhouse revenge thriller • The Horrific Evil Monsters (2021) – ensemble crossover featuring characters from Steigert's earlier works • A Grim Mini Series: Final Fracture (2022) – spin-off web series continuing the "Grim" storyline • Ombis 2: Alien Awakening (upcoming, 2026) – sequel to Ombis: Alien Invasion currently in postproduction In 2018, Steigert's werewolf feature Fang drew festival attention for its use of practical monster effects and ensemble cast, including Melodie Roehrig and Gregory Blair. His follow-up, The Horrific Evil Monsters (2021), was promoted as a crossover event linking several of his prior film universes, drawing comparisons to comic-book-style shared worlds within independent cinema. Steigert's body of work has since been cited in local press and festival coverage for helping to strengthen the Western New York independent film scene. His frequent collaborations and community-based productions have been recognized as part of Buffalo's growing horror and genre-film network, inspiring new filmmakers in the region to produce and self-distribute original content. ==References==