0520160042
02-03-2016
Garrett B.,1 Complainant, v. Tom J. Vilsack, Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Agency.
U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION
Office of Federal Operations
P.O. Box 77960
Washington, DC 20013
Garrett B.,1
Complainant,
v.
Tom J. Vilsack,
Secretary,
Department of Agriculture,
Agency.
Request No. 0520160042
Appeal No. 0120132446
Hearing No. 430-2012-00252X
Agency No. RMA20111063
DECISION ON REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION
Complainant timely requested reconsideration of the decision in EEOC Appeal No. 0120132446 (July 15, 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).
At the time of the events giving rise to this complaint, Complainant worked as a Risk management Specialist with the Agency's Risk Management Agency located in Raleigh, North Carolina. Complainant filed an EEO complaint alleging that the Agency discriminated against him on the bases of disability and reprisal when: (1) on September 20, 2011, management allowed him only four days to reconstruct the contents of a work folder that was discovered missing from his desk a few days prior; (2) on unspecified dates, management denied his requests for a reasonable accommodation in the form of extended due dates on various assignments; (3) on unspecified dates, he was not selected to serve as a trainer during annual training sessions; and (4) on a unspecified date, the reminder notification on his computer for "Written Agreements" was switched off, causing him to submit those assignments late.
Complainant initially requested a hearing, but subsequently withdrew his request. Our prior appellate decision affirmed Agency's decision, based on the evidence gathered during the investigation, which concluded that Complainant failed to prove his discrimination claims.
In his request for reconsideration, Complainant expresses his disagreement with the previous decision and presents some of the same arguments he raised on appeal. 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. 0120132446 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
February 3, 2016
__________________
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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