Hilary S.,1 Complainant,v.Megan J. Brennan, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service (Southern Area), Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Mar 5, 2019

2019001252 (E.E.O.C. Mar. 5, 2019)

U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION
Office of Federal Operations
P.O. Box 77960
Washington, DC 20013

Hilary S.,1
Complainant,

v.

Megan J. Brennan,
Postmaster General,
United States Postal Service
(Southern Area),
Agency.

Appeal No. 2019001252

Agency No. 4J481010518

DECISION

Complainant filed a timely appeal with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC
or Commission) from a final decision (FAD) by the Agency dated September 24, 2018, finding
that it was in compliance with the terms of the settlement agreement into which the parties
entered. See 29 C.F.R. § 1614.402; 29 C.F.R. § 1614.504(b); and 29 C.F.R. § 1614.405.

BACKGROUND

At the time of events giving rise to this complaint, Complainant worked as a Supervisor, EAS-
17, at the Agency’s facility in Birmingham, Alabama.

Believing that the Agency subjected her to unlawful discrimination, Complainant contacted an
Agency EEO Counselor to initiate the EEO complaint process. On June 15, 2018, Complainant
and the Agency entered into a settlement agreement to resolve the matter. The settlement
agreement provided, in pertinent part, that:

(1) Management agrees to pay Counselee [Complainant] a lump sum payment
of $1,000 for non-wage compensatory damages. Any tax liability is the
responsibility of Counselee and the Postal Svs. will issue her a 1099 IRS
Form. Management will submit the request to Eagan [the USPS

1 This case has been randomly assigned a pseudonym which will replace Complainant’s name
when the decision is published to non-parties and the Commission’s website.
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Accounting Service Center in Eagan, Minnesota] within 14 days from the
date of this agreement.

(2) Management agrees to credit Counselee’s sick leave balance for 24 hours.
3/29/18 8 hours
3/30/18 8hours
3/31/18 8hours

By letter to the Agency dated July 8, 2018, Complainant alleged that the Agency was in breach
of the settlement agreement and requested that the Agency reinstate her underlying EEO
complaint. Specifically, Complainant stated that during mediation she was told that her Office of
Workers’ Compensation (OWCP) case would be approved, but subsequently she learned that it
was not. When contacted by an EEO Compliance Specialist, Complainant also stated she had not
yet received the $1,000 and her leave had not been restored.

In its September 24, 2018 FAD, the Agency concluded it had not breached the agreement. The
Agency stated that the $1,000 payment was requested on June 15, 2018, and that the leave
restoration request was completed in Pay Period 17. The Agency noted that the OWCP claim
was not part of the agreement.

The instant appeal followed.

ANALYSIS

EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R. § 1614.504(a) provides that any settlement agreement knowingly
and voluntarily agreed to by the parties, reached at any stage of the complaint process, shall be
binding on both parties. The Commission has held that a settlement agreement constitutes a
contract between the employee and the Agency, to which ordinary rules of contract construction
apply. See Herrington v. Dep’t of Def., EEOC Request No. 05960032 (December 9, 1996). The
Commission has further held that it is the intent of the parties as expressed in the contract, not
some unexpressed intention, that controls the contract’s construction. Eggleston v. Dep’t of
Veterans Affairs, EEOC Request No. 05900795 (August 23, 1990). In ascertaining the intent of
the parties with regard to the terms of a settlement agreement, the Commission has generally
relied on the plain meaning rule. See Hyon O v. U.S. Postal Serv., EEOC Request No. 05910787
(December 2, 1991). This rule states that if the writing appears to be plain and unambiguous on
its face, its meaning must be determined from the four corners of the instrument without resort to
extrinsic evidence of any nature. See Montgomery Elevator Co. v. Building Eng’g Servs. Co.,
730 F.2d 377 (5th Cir. 1984).

In the instant case, we find the agreement is valid and binding.

Documentation in the record shows that the Agency has paid Complainant the $1,000 and has
restored her leave. We also find that the Agency correctly noted that there is no mention of
Complainant’s OWCP claim in the settlement agreement. OWCP decisions are made by the
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Department of Labor, not the Agency. Hence, the Agency would have no control over the
outcome of Complainant’s OWCP claim.

Accordingly, we AFFIRM the Agency’s determination that it was not in breach of the
agreement.

STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL
RECONSIDERATION (M0617)
The Commission may, in its discretion, reconsider the decision in this case if the Complainant or
the Agency submits a written request containing arguments or evidence which tend to establish
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.
Requests to reconsider, with supporting statement or brief, must be filed with the Office of
Federal Operations (OFO) within thirty (30) calendar days of receipt of this decision. A party
shall have twenty (20) calendar days of receipt of another party’s timely request for
reconsideration in which to submit a brief or statement in opposition. See 29 C.F.R. § 1614.405;
Equal Employment Opportunity Management Directive for 29 C.F.R. Part 1614 (EEO MD-110),
at Chap. 9 § VII.B (Aug. 5, 2015). All requests and arguments must be submitted to the
Director, Office of Federal Operations, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Complainant’s request may be submitted via regular mail to P.O. Box 77960, Washington, DC
20013, or by certified mail to 131 M Street, NE, Washington, DC 20507. In the absence of a
legible postmark, the request to reconsider shall be deemed timely filed if it is received by mail
within five days of the expiration of the applicable filing period. See 29 C.F.R. § 1614.604. The
agency’s request must be submitted in digital format via the EEOC’s Federal Sector EEO Portal
(FedSEP). See 29 C.F.R. § 1614.403(g). The request or opposition must also include proof of
service on the other party.
Failure to file within the time period will result in dismissal of your request for reconsideration
as untimely, unless extenuating circumstances prevented the timely filing of the request. Any
supporting documentation must be submitted with your request for reconsideration. The
Commission will consider requests for reconsideration filed after the deadline only in very
limited circumstances. See 29 C.F.R. § 1614.604(c).

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COMPLAINANT’S RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (S0610)
You have the right to file a civil action in an appropriate United States District Court within
ninety (90) calendar days from the date that you receive this decision. 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. If you
file a request to reconsider and also file a civil action, filing a civil action will terminate the
administrative processing of your complaint.
RIGHT TO REQUEST COUNSEL (Z0815)
If you want to file a civil action but cannot pay the fees, costs, or security to do so, you may
request permission from the court to proceed with the civil action without paying these fees or
costs. Similarly, if you cannot afford an attorney to represent you in the civil action, you may
request the court to appoint an attorney for you. You must submit the requests for waiver of
court costs or appointment of an attorney directly to the court, not the Commission. The
court has the sole discretion to grant or deny these types of requests. Such requests do not alter
the time limits for filing a civil action (please read the paragraph titled Complainant’s Right to
File a Civil Action for the specific time limits).
FOR THE COMMISSION:

______________________________ Carlton M. Hadden’s signature
Carlton M. Hadden, Director
Office of Federal Operations

March 5, 2019
Date