Complainant,v.Megan J. Brennan, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service (Southwest Area), Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Jul 22, 2015

05-2015-0337-0500 (E.E.O.C. Jul. 22, 2015)

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

,
Complainant,

v.

Megan J. Brennan,
Postmaster General,
United States Postal Service
(Southwest Area),
Agency.

Request No. 0520150337

Appeal No. 0120150389

Agency No. 4K-270-0038-13

DECISION ON REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION
Complainant timely requested reconsideration of the decision in EEOC Appeal No.
0120150389 (March 18, 2015). EEOC Regulations provide that the Commission may, in its
discretion, grant a request to reconsider any previous Commission decision 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).
The parties entered into a written settlement agreement in 2013. The settlement agreement
addressed, in essence, Complainant's return to work with the Agency. On appeal,
Complainant claimed that she had also entered into a verbal settlement agreement to maintain
her seniority status after returning to work. Our prior decision noted that the Commission has
upheld the validity of a settlement agreement entered into orally in only one type of situation -
during a hearing before an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Administrative Judge
where the hearing transcript evidenced the agreement. As this circumstance was inapplicable
to Complainant’s situation, we found no grounds to enforce the oral agreement, to the extent it
even existed, noting that EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R. § 1614.603 provides that "[a]ny
settlement reached shall be in writing and signed by both parties and shall identify the claims
resolved." In her request for reconsideration, Complainant, through counsel, encourages us to
make an “exception” for her client. This encouragement does not demonstrate how either of
the criteria set forth above is met.

0520150337

2
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. 0120150389 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

(Z0610)
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 from the Court that the Court appoint an attorney to represent you
and that the Court also 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
with the Court 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

Date
July 22, 2015