05a51147
08-24-2005
Annie M. Harrison-Gray, Beverly Hatcher, James Edwards, III v. Department
of Veterans Affairs
05A51147, 05A51143, 05A51146
August 24, 2005
.
Annie M. Harrison-Gray, Beverly Hatcher, James Edwards, III,
Complainants,
v.
R. James Nicholson,
Secretary,
Department of Veterans Affairs,
Agency.
Request Nos. 05A51147, 05A51143, 05A51146
Appeal Nos. 01A42149, 01A42150, 01A42151
Agency No. 2004-0652-2002103851
Hearing No. 120-2003-00508X
DENIAL
The agency timely requested reconsideration of the decisions in Annie
M. Harrison-Gray, Beverly Hatcher, James Edwards, III v. Department of
Veterans Affairs, EEOC Appeal Nos. 01A42149, 01A42150, 01A42151 (July
6, 2005). EEOC Regulations provide that the Commission may, in its
discretion, grant a request to reconsider any previous Commission decision
where the requesting party demonstrates that: (1) the appellate decision
involved a clearly erroneous interpretation of material fact or law; or
(2) the appellate decision will have a substantial impact on the policies,
practices, or operations of the agency. See 29 C.F.R. � 1614.405(b).
After reconsidering the previous decisions and the entire record,
the Commission finds that the requests fail to meet the criteria of 29
C.F.R. � 1614.405(b), and it is the decision of the Commission to deny the
requests. The decisions in EEOC Appeal Nos. 01A42149, 01A42150, 01A42151
remain the Commission's final decisions. There is no further right of
administrative appeal on the decision of the Commission on these requests.
ORDER
The agency shall submit to the Hearing Unit of the Richmond Area Office
a complete copy of the complaint file within fifteen (15) calendar
days of the date this decision becomes final. The agency shall provide
written notification to the Compliance Officer at the address set forth
below that the complaint file has been transmitted to the Hearing Unit.
Thereafter, the Administrative Judge shall issue a decision on the class
complaint and the agency shall then issue a final decision in accordance
with 29 C.F.R. � 1614.204.
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMISSION'S DECISION (K0501)
Compliance with the Commission's corrective action is mandatory.
The agency shall submit its compliance report within thirty (30)
calendar days of the completion of all ordered corrective action. The
report shall be submitted to the Compliance Officer, Office of Federal
Operations, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, P.O. Box 19848,
Washington, D.C. 20036. The agency's report must contain supporting
documentation, and the agency must send a copy of all submissions to
the complainant. If the agency does not comply with the Commission's
order, the complainant may petition the Commission for enforcement
of the order. 29 C.F.R. � 1614.503(a). The complainant also has the
right to file a civil action to enforce compliance with the Commission's
order prior to or following an administrative petition for enforcement.
See 29 C.F.R. �� 1614.407, 1614.408, and 29 C.F.R. � 1614.503(g).
Alternatively, the complainant has the right to file a civil action on
the underlying complaint in accordance with the paragraph below entitled
"Right to File A Civil Action." 29 C.F.R. �� 1614.407 and 1614.408.
A civil action for enforcement or a civil action on the underlying
complaint is subject to the deadline stated in 42 U.S.C. 2000e-16(c)
(1994 & Supp. IV 1999). If the complainant files a civil action, the
administrative processing of the complaint, including any petition for
enforcement, will be terminated. See 29 C.F.R. � 1614.409.
COMPLAINANT'S RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (R0900)
This is a decision requiring the agency to continue its administrative
processing of your complaint. However, if you wish to file a civil
action, you have the right to file such action in an appropriate United
States District Court within ninety (90) calendar days from the date
that you receive this decision. In the alternative, you may file a
civil action after one hundred and eighty (180) calendar days of the date
you filed your complaint with the agency, or filed your appeal with the
Commission. If you file a civil action, you must name as the defendant in
the complaint the person who is the official agency head or department
head, identifying that person by his or her full name and official title.
Failure to do so may result in the dismissal of your case in court.
"Agency" or "department" means the national organization, and not the
local office, facility or department in which you work. Filing a civil
action will terminate the administrative processing of your complaint.
RIGHT TO REQUEST COUNSEL (Z1199)
If you decide to file a civil action, and if you do not have or cannot
afford the services of an attorney, you may request that the Court appoint
an attorney to represent you and that the Court permit you to file the
action without payment of fees, costs, or other security. See Title VII
of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. � 2000e et seq.;
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, 29 U.S.C. �� 791, 794(c).
The grant or denial of the request is within the sole discretion of
the Court. Filing a request for an attorney does not extend your time
in which to file a civil action. Both the request and the civil action
must be filed within the time limits as stated in the paragraph above
("Right to File A Civil Action").
FOR THE COMMISSION:
______________________________
Carlton M. Hadden, Director
Office of Federal Operations
August 24, 2005
__________________
Date