05A31061_r
08-14-2003
Rafael J. Heredia, Complainant, v. Lawrence M. Small, Secretary, Smithsonian Institution Agency.
Rafael J. Heredia v. Smithsonian Institution
05A31061
August 14, 2003
.
Rafael J. Heredia,
Complainant,
v.
Lawrence M. Small,
Secretary,
Smithsonian Institution
Agency.
Request No. 05A31061
Appeal No. 01A22353
Agency No. 99-02-100898
Hearing No. 100-99-7177P
DENIAL OF REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION
Rafael J. Heredia (complainant) timely initiated a request to the Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC or Commission) to reconsider the
decision in Rafael J. Heredia v. Smithsonian Institution, EEOC Appeal
No. 01A22353 (June 5, 2003). 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 complainant'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. 01A22353 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.
ORDER
The agency, within 15 calendar days of the date this decision becomes
final, shall provide complainant (the existing class agent) with the
opportunity to designate a new class agent who could meet the requirements
for class certification pursuant to 29 C.F.R. � 1614.204. If, within 30
calendar days of the date this decision becomes final, no new class agent
is designated, then the agency shall, within 60 calendar days of the date
this decision becomes final, re-dismiss the class complaint pursuant to
29 C.F.R. � 1614.204. If a new class agent is designated within 30
calendar days of the date this decision becomes final, then the agency
shall, within 40 calendar days of the date this decision becomes final,
forward the case to the appropriate EEOC District Office for assignment
of an Administrative Judge for further processing in accordance with 29
C.F.R. � 1614.204(d).
A copy of the agency's letter providing complainant with the opportunity
to designate a new class agent and either a copy of the agency's new
decision or a copy of the notice forwarding the class complaint to the
appropriate EEOC District Office, must be sent to the Compliance Officer
as referenced herein.
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 (Q0900)
This decision affirms the agency's final decision/action in part, but it
also requires the agency to continue its administrative processing of a
portion of your complaint. 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 on both that portion
of your complaint which the Commission has affirmed and that portion
of the complaint which has been remanded for continued administrative
processing In the alternative, you may file a civil action after
one hundred and eighty (180) calendar days of the date you filed your
complaint with the agency, or filed your appeal with the Commission.
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. 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
August 14, 2003
__________________
Date