[Redacted], Fredrick A., 1 Complainant,v.John E. Whitley, Acting Secretary, Department of the Army, Agency.Download PDFEqual Employment Opportunity CommissionMar 30, 2021Appeal No. 2019004808 (E.E.O.C. Mar. 30, 2021) Copy Citation U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION Office of Federal Operations P.O. Box 77960 Washington, DC 20013 Fredrick A.,1 Complainant, v. John E. Whitley, Acting Secretary, Department of the Army, Agency. Request No. 2021001661 Appeal No. 2019004808 Agency No. AREUSTUT17MAY01627 DECISION ON REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION Complainant timely requested that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC or Commission) reconsider its decision in EEOC Appeal No. 2019004808 (October 26, 2020). 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 Special Operations Strategist at the Agency’s Special Operations Command Europe facility in Stuttgart, Germany. Complainant filed an EEO complaint alleging that the Agency discriminated against him on the basis of disability when: 1. On April 26, 2017, Complainant’s request for 14 days of paid leave or leave Without Pay to get full-time treatment as a reasonable accommodation was denied; 2. On April 29, 2017, Complainant was terminated from his provisional appointment; and 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. 2021001661 2 3. Prior to his termination, Complainant was not provided with notice of the pending termination, a chance to respond, or notice of his rights to challenge his termination to the Merit Systems Protection Board. In accordance with Complainant’s request, the Agency issued a final decision. Our prior appellate decision affirmed the Agency’s final decision that concluded that Complainant failed to prove that the Agency subjected him to discrimination as alleged. In his lengthy request for reconsideration, Complainant expresses his disagreement with the previous decision, and reiterates many of the arguments made during the original appeal. He also enclosed some medical documents. 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. 2019004808 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. 2021001661 3 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 30, 2021 Date Copy with citationCopy as parenthetical citation