Christopher U.,1 Complainant,v.Loretta E. Lynch, Attorney General, Department of Justice (Federal Bureau of Prisons), Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Jul 26, 2016

0520160325 (E.E.O.C. Jul. 26, 2016)

U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION
Office of Federal Operations
P.O. Box 77960
Washington, DC 20013

Christopher U.,1
Complainant,

v.

Loretta E. Lynch,
Attorney General,
Department of Justice
(Federal Bureau of Prisons),
Agency.

Request No. 0520160325

Appeal No. 0120160706

Agency No. BOP201501626

DECISION ON REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION

Complainant timely requested reconsideration of the decision in EEOC Appeal No.
0120160706 (Mar. 9, 2016). EEOC Regulations provide that the Commission may, in its
discretion, grant a request to 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(c).

On April 23, 2015, Complainant filed a formal complaint alleging that the Agency
discriminated against him in reprisal for prior protected EEO activity when: the Associate
General Counsel treated him in an unprofessional manner when he expressed concerns
regarding the manner in which the Assistant General Counsel was handling his case before an
Administrative Judge at the EEOC; he received a letter from the Assistant General Counsel
informing him that the Warden at FCI Seagoville refused to sign a settlement agreement
pertaining to his EEO complaint; and the Assistant General Counsel refused to provide him
with a copy of the settlement agreement.

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.
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2
On November 19, 2015, the Agency dismissed the complaint for failure to state a claim.
Complainant appealed and, in Christopher U. v. Dep’t of Justice, EEOC Appeal No.
0120160706 (Mar. 9, 2016), the Commission affirmed the Agency’s dismissal. In so finding,
the Commission noted that Complainant had not alleged a personal loss or harm regarding a
term, condition, or privilege of his employment. Further, the Commission found that the
alleged events, even if true, did not state a viable hostile work environment claim. Finally, the
Commission determined that conduct at issue was not of a type reasonably likely to deter
Complainant or others from engaging in protected activity.

In his request for reconsideration, Complainant claims that the Commission unfairly issued a
decision while he was in a nursing home which prevented him from submitting an appellate
brief. The Commission is sympathetic to Complainant’s situation; however, the record reveals
that the Commission granted Complainant at least one extension of time to file his brief in
support of his appeal, and his representative submitted a statement on his behalf. The
Commission emphasizes that a request for reconsideration is not a second appeal to the
Commission. Equal Employment Opportunity Management Directive for 29 C.F.R. Part 1614
(EEO MD-110) (Aug. 5, 2015), at 9-18; see, e.g., Lopez v. Dep't of Agric., EEOC Request
No. 0520070736 (Aug. 20, 2007). Rather, a reconsideration request is an opportunity to
demonstrate that the appellate decision involved a clearly erroneous interpretation of material
fact or law, or will have a substantial impact on the policies, practices, or operations of the
Agency. Complainant has not done so here.

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. 0120160706 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.

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
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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

July 26, 2016
Date