Steven Phillips, Appellant,v.Robert E. Rubin, Secretary, Department of the Treasury, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionJan 15, 1999
05970651 (E.E.O.C. Jan. 15, 1999)

05970651

01-15-1999

Steven Phillips, Appellant, v. Robert E. Rubin, Secretary, Department of the Treasury, Agency.


Steven Phillips v. Department of the Treasury

05970651

January 15, 1999

Steven Phillips, )

Appellant, )

) Request No. 05970651

v. ) Appeal No. 01963679

) Agency No. 96-3033

Robert E. Rubin, )

Secretary, )

Department of the Treasury, )

Agency. )

)

DENIAL OF REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION

On March 27, 1997, the Department of the Treasury (hereinafter referred

to as the agency) timely initiated a request to the Equal Employment

Opportunity Commission (the Commission) to reconsider the decision in

Steven Phillips v. Robert E. Rubin, Secretary, Department of the Treasury,

EEOC Appeal No. 01963679 (March 7, 1997). EEOC regulations provide

that the Commissioners may, in their discretion, reconsider any previous

decision. 29 C.F.R. �1614.407(a). A party requesting reconsideration

must submit written argument or evidence which tends to establish one or

more of the following criteria: new and material evidence is available

that was not readily available when the previous decision was issued,

29 C.F.R. �1614.407(c)(1); the previous decision involved an erroneous

interpretation of law, regulation or material fact, or misapplication of

established policy, 29 C.F.R. �1614.407(c)(2); the decision is of such

exceptional nature as to have substantial precedential implications,

29 C.F.R. �1614.407(c)(3).

After a review of the agency's request for reconsideration, the

appellant's reply thereto, the previous decision, and the entire record,

the Commission finds that the agency's request fails to meet the criteria

of 29 C.F.R. �1614.407(c), and it is the decision of the Commission to

deny the agency's request. The decision in EEOC Appeal No. 01963679

(March 7, 1997) remains the Commission's final decision. There is no

further right of administrative appeal on a decision of the Commission

on a Request for Reconsideration. The agency is directed to comply with

the Order, below.

ORDER

The agency shall contact appellant within 15 days of the date this

decision is received in order to clarify the instant complaint. Should

appellant request a face-to-face meeting, the agency is directed to

utilize the services of a certified interpreter. Within 60 days of the

date of this decision is received, the agency shall issue a final agency

decision with regard to further processing of the instant complaint.

A copy of the agency's initial contact with appellant and a copy of the

new FAD must be sent to the Compliance Officer as referenced herein.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMISSION'S DECISION (K0595)

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

order, the appellant may petition the Commission for enforcement of

the order. 29 C.F.R. �1614.503 (a). The appellant 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. �� 1614.408, 1614.409, and 1614.503 (g). Alternatively,

the appellant 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. �� 1614.408 and 1614.409. 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) (Supp. V 1993). If the

appellant files a civil action, the administrative processing of the

complaint, including any petition for enforcement, will be terminated.

See 29 C.F.R. �1614.410.

STATEMENT OF APPELLANT'S RIGHTS - ON REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION

RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (R0993)

This is a decision requiring the agency to continue its administrative

processing of your complaint. However, if you wish to file a civil

action, you have the right to file such action in an appropriate United

States District Court. It is the position of the Commission that 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. You should be aware, however, that courts in some

jurisdictions have interpreted the Civil Rights Act of 1991 in a manner

suggesting that a civil action must be filed WITHIN THIRTY (30) CALENDAR

DAYS from the date that you receive this decision. To ensure that your

civil action is considered timely, you are advised to file it WITHIN

THIRTY (30) CALENDAR DAYS from the date that you receive this decision

or to consult an attorney concerning the applicable time period in the

jurisdiction in which your action would be filed. 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 (Z1092)

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:

JAN 15, 1999

Date Frances M. Hart

Executive Officer

Executive Secretariat