Nancy K. Maynard, Complainant,v.Anthony J. Principi, Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionSep 26, 2001
05990126 (E.E.O.C. Sep. 26, 2001)

05990126

09-26-2001

Nancy K. Maynard, Complainant, v. Anthony J. Principi, Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs, Agency.


Nancy K. Maynard v. Department of Veterans Affairs

05990126

September 26, 2001

.

Nancy K. Maynard,

Complainant,

v.

Anthony J. Principi,

Secretary,

Department of Veterans Affairs,

Agency.

Request No. 05990126

Appeal No. 01961796

Agency No. 94-0630

Hearing No. 320-94-8391X

DENIAL OF REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION

The agency initiated a request to the Equal Employment Opportunity

Commission (EEOC or Commission) to reconsider the decision in Nancy

K. Maynard v. Department of Veterans Affairs, EEOC Appeal No. 01961796

(September 24, 1998). EEOC Regulations provide that the Commission may,

in its discretion, 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(b).

After a review of the agency's request for reconsideration, 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(b), and it is the

decision of the Commission to deny the request. The decision in EEOC

Appeal No. 01961796 remains the Commission's final decision. There is no

further right of administrative appeal on the decision of the Commission

on this request for reconsideration. The agency is ordered to comply

with the Commission's Order in EEOC No. 01961796 as set forth below.

ORDER (C0900)

The agency is ordered to take the following remedial action:

1. Within thirty (30) calendar days of the date this decision becomes

final, the agency is directed to offer appellant reinstatement to

her position as Fiscal Accounts Supervisor, GS-8, or a substantially

equivalent position. The offer shall be made in writing. Appellant shall

have 15 days from receipt of offer within which to accept or decline

the offer. Failure to accept the offer within the 15-day period will

be considered a declination of the offer, unless appellant can show

that circumstances beyond her control prevented a response within the

time limit.

2. The agency shall determine the appropriate amount of back pay (with

interest, if applicable) and other benefits due appellant, pursuant to

29 C.F.R. �1614.501, no later than sixty (60) calendar days after the

date this decision becomes final. The appellant shall cooperate in the

agency's efforts to compute the amount of back pay and benefits due,

and shall provide all relevant information requested by the agency. If

there is a dispute regarding the exact amount of back pay and/or benefits,

the agency shall issue a check to the appellant for the undisputed amount

within sixty (60) calendar days of the date the agency determines the

amount it believes to be due. The appellant may petition for enforcement

or clarification of the amount in dispute. The petition for clarification

or enforcement must be filed with the Compliance Officer, at the address

referenced in the statement entitled "Implementation of the Commission's

Decision."

3. The issues of compensatory damages and attorney's fees and costs

are REMANDED to the Hearings Unit of the Denver District Office.

Thereafter, the Administrative Judge shall issue a decision on these

issues in accordance with 29 C.F.R. � 1614.109, and the agency shall

issue a final action in accordance with 29 C.F.R. � 1614.110 within forty

(40) days of receipt of the Administrative Judge's decision. The agency

shall submit copies of the Administrative Judge's decision and the final

agency action to the Compliance Officer at the address set forth below.

4. The agency shall post copies of the attached notice at the Veterans

Affairs Medical Center, Hot Springs, South Dakota. Copies of the notice,

after being signed by the agency's duly authorized representative,

shall be posted by the agency within thirty (30) calendar days of the

date this decision becomes final, and shall remain posted for sixty

(60) consecutive days, in conspicuous places, including all places

where notices to employees are customarily posted. The agency shall take

reasonable steps to ensure that said notices are not altered, defaced,

or covered by any other material. The original signed notice is to be

submitted to the Compliance Officer at the address cited in the paragraph

entitled "Implementation of the Commission's Decision," within ten (10)

calendar days of the expiration of the posting period.

5. The agency shall provide training in the obligations and duties

imposed by Title VII and the Rehabilitation Act to the agency official(s)

responsible for the instant action.

6. The agency is further directed to submit a report of compliance, as

provided in the statement entitled "Implementation of the Commission's

Decision." The report shall include supporting documentation of the

agency's calculation of back pay and other benefits due appellant,

including evidence that the corrective action has been implemented.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMISSION'S DECISION (K0501)

Compliance with the Commission's corrective action is mandatory.

The agency shall submit its compliance report within thirty (30)

calendar days of the completion of all ordered corrective action. The

report shall be submitted to the Compliance Officer, Office of Federal

Operations, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, P.O. Box 19848,

Washington, D.C. 20036. The agency's report must contain supporting

documentation, and the agency must send a copy of all submissions to

the complainant. If the agency does not comply with the Commission's

order, the complainant may petition the Commission for enforcement

of the order. 29 C.F.R. � 1614.503(a). The complainant also has the

right to file a civil action to enforce compliance with the Commission's

order prior to or following an administrative petition for enforcement.

See 29 C.F.R. �� 1614.407, 1614.408, and 29 C.F.R. � 1614.503(g).

Alternatively, the complainant has the right to file a civil action on

the underlying complaint in accordance with the paragraph below entitled

"Right to File A Civil Action." 29 C.F.R. �� 1614.407 and 1614.408.

A civil action for enforcement or a civil action on the underlying

complaint is subject to the deadline stated in 42 U.S.C. 2000e-16(c)

(1994 & Supp. IV 1999). If the complainant files a civil action, the

administrative processing of the complaint, including any petition for

enforcement, will be terminated. See 29 C.F.R. � 1614.409.

COMPLAINANT'S RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (P0900)

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 (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

September 26, 2001

Date

NOTICE TO EMPLOYEES

POSTED BY ORDER OF THE

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION

An agency of the United States Government

This Notice is posted pursuant to an Order by the United States Equal

Employment Opportunity Commission, dated September 26, 2001 which found

that a violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended,

42 U.S.C. � 2000e et al. has occurred at this facility.

Federal law requires that there be no discrimination against any employee

or applicant for employment because of the person's RACE, COLOR, RELIGION,

SEX, NATIONAL ORIGIN, AGE, or PHYSICAL or MENTAL DISABILITY with respect

to hiring, firing, promotion, compensation, or other terms, conditions

or privileges of employment.

The Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Hot Springs, South Dakota, supports

and will comply with such Federal law and will not take action against

individuals because they have exercised their rights under law.

The Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Hot Springs, South Dakota, has

remedied the employee affected by the Commission's finding by awarding her

reinstatement to the position she held prior to the discriminatory action,

appropriate back pay and other benefits. The Veterans Affairs Medical

Center, Hot Springs, South Dakota, will ensure that officials responsible

for personnel decisions and terms and conditions of employment will abide

by the requirements of all Federal equal employment opportunity laws.

The Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Hot Springs, South Dakota, will

not in any manner restrain, interfere, coerce, or retaliate against

any individual who exercises his or her right to oppose practices made

unlawful by, or who participates in proceedings pursuant to, Federal

equal employment opportunity law.

___________________________________

Date Posted: ________________

Posting Expires: ____________