[Redacted], Marine V., 1 Complainant,v.Kilolo Kijakazi, Acting Commissioner, Social Security Administration, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Sep 15, 2022

Appeal No. 2021003179 (E.E.O.C. Sep. 15, 2022)

U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION Office of Federal Operations P.O. Box 77960 Washington, DC 20013 Marine V.,1 Complainant, v. Kilolo Kijakazi, Acting Commissioner, Social Security Administration, Agency. Request No. 2022002691 Appeal No. 2021003179 Hearing No. 550-2020-00259X Agency No. BOS-19-0847-SSA DECISION ON REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION Complainant timely requested that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC or Commission) reconsider its decision in EEOC Appeal No. 2021003179 (March 16, 2022). EEOC regulations provide that the Commission may, in its discretion, grant a request to reconsider any previous Commission decision issued pursuant to 29 C.F.R. § 1614.405(a), 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). During the relevant time, Complainant worked as a Level II District Manager, GS-13, at the Agency’s office in Torrington, Connecticut. Believing that her non-selection for a Social Insurance Administrator (District Manager) position (Vacancy Announcement SC-10436036-19- MX) was based on her sex, Complainant filed a formal EEO complaint. Following an investigation, Complainant requested a hearing before an EEOC Administrative Judge (AJ). However, the Agency filed a motion for summary judgment. 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. 2022002691 2 The AJ agreed that there were no genuine issues of material fact and issued a decision without a hearing concluding no discrimination was established. When the Agency failed to issue a final order within forty days of receipt, the AJ’s decision became the Agency’s final action. Complainant appealed the decision to the Commission. In EEOC Appeal No. 2021003179, we found that the AJ properly granted the Agency’s motion for summary judgment. Further, we determined that the AJ correctly found that Complainant failed to establish, by a preponderance of the evidence, that her non-selection was discriminatory. See id. In order to merit the reconsideration of a prior Commission decision, the requesting party must submit written argument or evidence which tends to establish that at least one of the criteria of 29 C.F.R. §1614.407(c) is met. The Commission's scope of review on a request for reconsideration is narrow. Lopez v. Department of the Air Force, EEOC Request No. 05890749 (September 28, 1989). A request for reconsideration is not merely a form of a second appeal. Regensberg v. USPS, EEOC Request No. 05900850 (September 7, 1990). Instead, it is an opportunity to submit newly discovered evidence, not previously available; to establish substantive error in a previous decision; or to explain why the previous decision will have effects beyond the case at hand. Lyke v. USPS, EEOC Request No. 05900769 (September 27, 1990). Here, Complainant simply reiterates contentions and arguments raised, or should have been raised, during the original appeal. 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. 2021003179 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. 2022002691 3 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 September 15, 2022 Date