Janita H., Complainant,v.Dr. David J. Shulkin, Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Aug 4, 2017

0120162296 (E.E.O.C. Aug. 4, 2017)

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

Janita H.,
Complainant,

v.

Dr. David J. Shulkin,
Secretary,
Department of Veterans Affairs,
Agency.

Appeal No. 0120162296

Hearing No. 520-2015-00307X

Agency No. 200H-0689-2014102301

DECISION

Complainant filed a timely appeal, pursuant to 29 C.F.R. § 1614.403(a), from the Agency’s June
1, 2016, final order concerning her equal employment opportunity (EEO) complaint alleging
employment discrimination in violation of Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
(Rehabilitation Act), as amended, 29 U.S.C. § 791 et seq.

BACKGROUND

At the time of events giving rise to this complaint, Complainant worked as a Medical Support
Assistant, GS 6/7, at the Agency’s VA Medical Center in West Haven, Connecticut.

On July 3, 2014, Complainant filed a formal complaint wherein she claimed that the Agency
discriminated against her on the basis of her disability (bilateral carpal tunnel, bilateral cubital
tunnel syndrome with ulnar neuritis from the elbow, back lumbar sprain, contusion of back, neck
sprain) when she was subjected to harassment as follows:

1. Between October 5, 2013 and February 7, 2014, Complainant has been marked
AWOL on multiple occasions;

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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2. On October 15, 2013, the Human Resources Specialist offered Complainant a
nonexistent position as a Greeter;

3. On October 16, 2013, the Human Resources Specialist told Complainant that she did
not receive some information from Complainant, although Complainant was in
receipt of emails sent to the Human Resources Specialist regarding her OWCP claim;

4. On October 24, 2013, the Human Resources Specialist told Complainant that her
physician did not send a medical note to her even though Complainant received
confirmation that the information had been sent from her orthopedic surgeon’s office;

5. On December 18, 2013, Complainant’s first-line Supervisor e-mailed Complainant a
form not used by the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP) or the
facility and requested Complainant provide the form to her physician to identify
Complainant’s job restrictions;

6. On December 27, 2013, Complainant became aware that random amounts of money
were being deducted from her pay, thereby creating a financial hardship, and since
contacting the Supervisor of Payroll, she has not received any information or
reasoning as to why the money was taken out;

7. On February 14, 2014, Complainant became aware that her entered time was changed
in the time and leave system after she requested the correct amount of leave, which
resulted in another reduction in pay; and

8. Since March 5, 2014, Complainant has been marked AWOL.

Claims (6-8) were also accepted as independent actionable claims, to be analyzed under a
disparate treatment theory.

After its investigation into the complaint, the Agency provided Complainant with a copy of the
report of investigation and notice of her right to request a hearing before an Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission Administrative Judge (AJ). Complainant timely requested a hearing.
The Agency submitted a motion for a decision without a hearing, to which Complainant replied
in opposition. The AJ subsequently issued a decision by summary judgment in favor of the
Agency.

The Agency issued its final order adopting the AJ’s finding that Complainant failed to prove
discrimination as alleged. The instant appeal followed.
The Commission’s regulations allow an AJ to grant summary judgment when he or she finds that
there is no genuine issue of material fact. 29 C.F.R. § 1614.109(g). An issue of fact is
“genuine” if the evidence is such that a reasonable fact finder could find in favor of the non-
moving party. Celotex v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322-23 (1986); Oliver v. Digital Equip. Corp.,
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846 F.2d 103, 105 (1st Cir. 1988). A fact is “material” if it has the potential to affect the
outcome of the case. In rendering this appellate decision we must scrutinize the AJ’s legal and
factual conclusions, and the Agency’s final order adopting them, de novo. See 29 C.F.R. §
1614.405(a) (stating that a “decision on an appeal from an Agency’s final action shall be based
on a de novo review…”); see also Equal Employment Opportunity Management Directive for 29
C.F.R. Part 1614 (EEO-MD-110), at Chap. 9, § VI.B. (as revised, August 5, 2015) (providing
that an Administrative Judge’s determination to issue a decision without a hearing, and the
decision itself, will both be reviewed de novo).

In order to successfully oppose a decision by summary judgment, a complainant must identify,
with specificity, facts in dispute either within the record or by producing further supporting
evidence, and must further establish that such facts are material under applicable law. Such a
dispute would indicate that a hearing is necessary to produce evidence to support a finding that
the agency was motivated by discriminatory animus. Here, however, Complainant has failed to
establish such a dispute. Even construing any inferences raised by the undisputed facts in favor
of Complainant, a reasonable fact-finder could not find in Complainant’s favor.

Upon careful review of the AJ’s decision and the evidence of record, as well as the parties’
arguments on appeal, we conclude that the AJ correctly determined that the preponderance of the
evidence did not establish that Complainant was discriminated against by the Agency as alleged.

Accordingly, we AFFIRM the Agency’s final order adopting the AJ’s decision.

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.
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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).

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.

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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

August 4, 2017
Date