Catherine M. Wine, Complainant,v.Togo D. West, Jr., Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionApr 28, 2000
05a00001 (E.E.O.C. Apr. 28, 2000)

05a00001

04-28-2000

Catherine M. Wine, Complainant, v. Togo D. West, Jr., Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs, Agency.


Catherine M. Wine v. Department of Veterans Affairs

05A00001

April 28, 2000

Catherine M. Wine, )

Complainant, ) Request No. 05A00001

)

v. ) Appeal No. 01972814

)

Togo D. West, Jr., ) Agency No. 95-0072

Secretary, )

Department of Veterans Affairs, )

Agency. )

________________________________)

DECISION ON REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION

On September 21, 1999, the Department of Veterans Affairs (agency) timely

initiated a request to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (the

Commission) to reconsider the decision in Catherine M. Wine v. Department

of Veterans Affairs, EEOC Appeal No. 01972814 (August 20, 1999).<1>

EEOC regulations provide that the Commission may, in its discretion,

reconsider any previous Commission decision. 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,659

(1999)(to be codified and hereinafter referred to as EEOC Regulation 29

C.F.R. � 1614.405(b)). The party requesting reconsideration must submit

written argument or evidence which tends to establish one or more of

the following two criteria: the appellate decision involved a clearly

erroneous interpretation of material fact or law; or the decision will

have a substantial impact on the policies, practices or operations of

the agency. Id. For the reasons set forth herein, complainant's request

is granted.

In the previous decision, the Commission complainant was discriminated

against on the basis of race (Black) when management attempted to reassign

her and then later rescinded the reassignment and instead removed three

wards from her supervision. On request for reconsideration, the agency

claims that a September 28, 1995 Special Inquiry Report (report) from the

agency's Office of Inspector General constitutes new and material evidence

in support of the agency's demotion of complainant. The agency states

that the report confirms management's concern regarding complainant's

managerial filings and that it is critical that management retain ability

to intervene and response when a supervisor fails to appropriately apply

her managerial responsibilities. In response, complainant points out

that the report did not exist when the discriminatory acts occurred.

Complainant further states that the September 28, 1995 report was

not listed among the evidence submitted in the agency's July 2, 1996

pre-hearing submission or relied upon by the agency in rendering its

November 27, 1996 final decision.

After a review of complainant's request for reconsideration, the previous

decision, and the entire record, the Commission finds that complainant's

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 agency's request. While the

agency contends that the report supports complainant's demotion, we find

that the agency never prior to filing this request for reconsideration

ever stated that incidents addressed in the report were part of its reason

in demoting complainant. In its November 27, 1996 final decision, the

agency points to specific incidents as the basis for its actions. Never

did the agency indicate that the incidents described in the report were

considered in its decision to demote complainant. Further, we note that

the incidents referred to in the report occurred while complainant was in

a different position and prior to the discriminating official's arrival

at the facility. As a result, the decision of the Commission in Appeal

No. 01972814 (August 20, 1999) remains the Commission's final decision.

The agency is ordered to comply with the order in that decision, as

duplicated below. There is no further right of administrative appeal

on the decision of the Commission on this request for reconsideration.

ORDER

The agency is ordered to take the following remedial actions:

(1) The agency shall place complainant in her original position with

the same areas of responsibility.

(2) The agency shall conduct a supplemental investigation on the issue

of complainant's entitlement to compensatory damages, and provide her

with an opportunity to develop the record with respect to this claim.

See West v. Gibson, 527 U.S. 212 (1999). Specifically, she shall be

afforded an opportunity to establish a causal relationship between the

discrimination and any pecuniary or non-pecuniary losses. Thereafter, the

agency shall issue a final decision on the amount of compensatory damages

owed to complainant, if any. 29 C.F.R. �1614.110. The supplemental

investigation and issuance of the final decision must be completed

within 120 calendar days of the date this decision becomes final. A

copy of the final decision must be submitted to the Compliance Officer,

as referenced below.

(3) The agency shall conduct EEO training for the responsible management

officials at the Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital with respect

to eliminating discrimination in the Federal workplace.

(5) 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 evidence that the corrective action

has been implemented.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMISSION'S DECISION (K1199)

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 64

Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,659-60 (1999) (to be codified and hereinafter

referred to as 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)(Supp. V 1993). If the complainant files a civil action, the

administrative processing of the complaint, including any petition for

enforcement, will be terminated. See 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,659 (1999)

(to be codified and hereinafter referred to as 29 C.F.R. � 1614.409).

POSTING ORDER (G1092)

The agency is ORDERED to post at its Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans

Hospital copies of the attached notice. 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.

ATTORNEY'S FEES (H1199)

If complainant has been represented by an attorney (as defined by 64

Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,659-60 (1999) (to be codified and hereinafter

referred to as 29 C.F.R. � 1614.501(e)(1)(iii)), he/she is entitled to

an award of reasonable attorney's fees incurred in the processing of the

complaint. 29 C.F.R. � 1614.501(e). The award of attorney's fees shall

be paid by the agency. The attorney shall submit a verified statement of

fees to the agency -- not to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission,

Office of Federal Operations -- within thirty (30) calendar days of this

decision becoming final. The agency shall then process the claim for

attorney's fees in accordance with 29 C.F.R. � 1614.501.

COMPLAINANTS' RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (R0400)

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 WITHIN NINETY (90) CALENDAR DAYS from the date

that you receive this decision. 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:

April 28, 2000

Date Carlton M. Hadden, Acting Director

Office of Federal Operations

1 On November 9, 1999, revised regulations governing the EEOC's federal

sector complaint process went into effect. These regulations apply to all

federal sector EEO complaints pending at any stage in the administrative

process. Consequently, the Commission will apply the revised regulations

found at 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644 (1999), where applicable, in deciding the

present appeal. The regulations, as amended, may also be found at the

Commission's website at www.eeoc.gov.