01A32887
08-04-2003
Arla M. Gaines, Complainant, v. Hector V. Barreto, Administrator, Small Business Administration, Agency.
Arla M. Gaines v. U.S. Small Business Administration
01A32887
08-04-03
.
Arla M. Gaines,
Complainant,
v.
Hector V. Barreto,
Administrator,
Small Business Administration,
Agency.
Appeal No. 01A32887
Agency Nos. 07-97-615, 10-98-001, 01-98-017, 11-99-002
Hearing Nos. 370-99-2539X, 370-99-2360X, 370-AO-2025X, 370-AO-2132X
DECISION
Pursuant to 29 C.F.R. � 1614.405, the Commission accepts the complainant's
appeal from the agency's final order in the above-entitled matter.
Complainant alleged that the agency had discriminated against her on the
bases of sex (female), disability (morbid obesity, asthma, sleep apnea and
diabetes), age (D.O.B. 1/10/53), and reprisal for prior EEO activity when
she was subjected to a pattern of harassment which included: (1) removal
of complainant's year and a day status; (2) a downgrade from a GS-13/2
Supervisory Attorney Advisor to a GS-12/4 Attorney Advisor; (3) not being
assigned as a lead attorney; (4) being ordered to vacate her office; (5)
not being assigned a regular portfolio; (6) entering into a settlement
agreement with a subordinate that affected her supervisory authority; (7)
told to travel to a meeting on a Sunday; (8) the lowering of her interim
performance evaluation from �outstanding� to �exceeds fully successful;�
(9) a failure to reimburse complainant's attorney for travel expenses in
a timely manner; (10) a failure to provide copies of documents requested
under FOIA unless complainant paid the FOIA fee in advance; (11) an audit
of her travel vouchers; (12) terminating complainant on October 24, 1997;
(13) appealing complainant's receipt of unemployment benefits; and (14)
the appearance of an agency witness at an unemployment hearing who made
false statements regarding complainant.
After a review of the record in its entirety, including consideration
of all statements submitted on appeal, it is the decision of the Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission to affirm the final agency order because
the Administrative Judge's ultimate finding, that unlawful employment
discrimination was not proven by a preponderance of the evidence, is
supported by the record.
STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL
RECONSIDERATION (M0701)
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 or within twenty (20) calendar days of
receipt of another party's timely request for reconsideration. See 29
C.F.R. � 1614.405; Equal Employment Opportunity Management Directive for
29 C.F.R. Part 1614 (EEO MD-110), 9-18 (November 9, 1999). All requests
and arguments must be submitted to the Director, Office of Federal
Operations, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, P.O. Box 19848,
Washington, D.C. 20036. 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 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 (S0900)
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 (Z1199)
If you decide to file a civil action, and if you do not have or cannot
afford the services of an attorney, you may request that the Court appoint
an attorney to represent you and that the Court permit you to file the
action without payment of fees, costs, or other security. See Title VII
of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. � 2000e et seq.;
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, 29 U.S.C. �� 791, 794(c).
The grant or denial of the request is within the sole discretion of
the Court. Filing a request for an attorney does not extend your time
in which to file a civil action. Both the request and the civil action
must be filed within the time limits as stated in the paragraph above
("Right to File A Civil Action").
FOR THE COMMISSION:
______________________________
Carlton M. Hadden, Director
Office of Federal Operations
____08-04-03______________
Date