Nevada R.,1 Complainant,v.Sonny Perdue, Secretary, Department of Agriculture (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services), Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Feb 21, 2019

2019000243 (E.E.O.C. Feb. 21, 2019)

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

Nevada R.,1
Complainant,

v.

Sonny Perdue,
Secretary,
Department of Agriculture
(Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services),
Agency.

Appeal No. 2019000242 & 201900243

Hearing No. 410-2016-000483X & 410-2017-00583X

Agency No. APHIS201500959 & APHIS201700163

DECISION

Complainant filed an appeal with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC or
Commission) from the Agency's decision dated July 23, 2018, dismissing her complaint of
unlawful employment discrimination in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
(Title VII), as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq., Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
(Rehabilitation Act), as amended, 29 U.S.C. § 791 et seq., and the Age Discrimination in
Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), as amended, 29 U.S.C. § 621 et seq.

At the time of events giving rise to this complaint, Complainant worked as an Animal Caretaker
at the Agency’s facility in Newnan, Georgia. Complainant filed two formal complaints alleging
that the Agency subjected her to discrimination and ongoing harassment on the bases of sex,
disability, age and reprisal. Complainant raised numerous allegations in support of her claims,
including receiving a duty status letter and not receiving the appropriate salary after her position
was upgraded.

The Agency investigated the complaints and Complainant request a hearing. On July 10, 2018,
an EEOC Administrative Judge (AJ) dismissed the complaints because, by letter dated July 3,
2018, Complainant specifically stated that she was “pulling the case from the EEOC as of
7/6/2018 at 3:27PM and compiling it with the other cases at the DC District Court.” The letter

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.
2019000242 & 2019000243

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contained both hearing numbers and both Agency numbers. Thereafter, the Agency issued a decision
on July 23, 2018, adopting the AJ’s dismissal of the complaints.

In her appeal, Complainant merely states that she never got a copy of the Agency’s FAD. Even
if she did not get a copy, we find that the AJ properly dismissed the complaints as Complainant
withdrew from the administrative EEO complaint process in order to pursue the claims as part of
a pending civil action in federal court.

Accordingly, the instant appeals are DISMISSED.

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).

2019000242 & 2019000243

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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

February 21, 2019
Date