0520180326
08-24-2018
Mari R.,1 Complainant, v. Sonny Perdue, Secretary, Department of Agriculture (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services), Agency.
U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION
Office of Federal Operations
P.O. Box 77960
Washington, DC 20013
Mari R.,1
Complainant,
v.
Sonny Perdue,
Secretary,
Department of Agriculture
(Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services),
Agency.
Request No. 0520180326
Appeal No. 0120172432
Agency No. APHIS201600488
DECISION ON REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION
Complainant timely requested that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC or Commission) reconsider its decision in EEOC Appeal No. 0120172432 (March 16, 2018). EEOC regulations provide that the Commission may, in its discretion, grant a request to reconsider any previous Commission decision issued pursuant to 29 C.F.R. � 1614.405(a), 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(c).
Complainant worked as a Plant Protection and Quarantine Technician, GS-0421-07, located in Yakima, Washington. Complainant engaged in the EEO process, and subsequently entered into a settlement agreement. The settlement agreement stated the Agency would reassign Complainant's permanent duty station to her home residence, and allow Complainant 2 hours per pay period to participate in training course(s) and/or educational opportunities.
Complainant alleged the Agency breached the agreement when it failed "to provide her equipment needed to perform [her] duties." Complainant also alleged that the Agency did not provide her time and attendance codes for working with peers and shadowing the work of a Plant Protection and Quarantine Officer.
Our prior appellate decision affirmed the Agency's final decision that concluded that the Agency was not in breach of the agreement. The decision found that Complainant did not state and the record did not show what specific items were missing or what IT aspects were unresolved. The decision also found that the agreement did not require the Agency to create new T&A codes.
In her request for reconsideration, Complainant expresses her disagreement with the previous decision. We emphasize that a request for reconsideration is not a second appeal to the Commission. See EEO MD-110, Ch. 9, � VII.A. Rather, a reconsideration request is an opportunity to demonstrate that the appellate decision involved a clearly erroneous interpretation of material fact or law, or will have a substantial impact on the policies, practices, or operations of the Agency. Complainant has not done so here.
After reviewing the previous decision and the entire record, the Commission finds that the request fails to meet the criteria of 29 C.F.R. � 1614.405(c), and it is the decision of the Commission to deny the request. The decision in EEOC Appeal No. 0120172432 remains the Commission's decision. There is no further right of administrative appeal on the decision of the Commission on this request.
COMPLAINANT'S RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (P0610)
This decision of the Commission is final, and there is no further right of administrative appeal from the Commission's decision. 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.
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
August 24, 2018
__________________
Date
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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