Cortez J.,1 Complainant,v.Jeh Johnson, Secretary, Department of Homeland Security (Transportation Security Administration), Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Jun 23, 2016

0520160251 (E.E.O.C. Jun. 23, 2016)

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

Cortez J.,1
Complainant,

v.

Jeh Johnson,
Secretary,
Department of Homeland Security
(Transportation Security Administration),
Agency.

Request No. 0520160251

Appeal No. 0120160744

Hearing No. 430-2015-000402X

Agency No. HS-TSA-00230-2015

DECISION ON REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION

Complainant timely requested reconsideration of the decision in EEOC Appeal No.
0120160744 (March 18, 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).

The record indicates that on January 4, 2015, Complainant filed his complaint alleging
discrimination in reprisal for prior EEO activity when on September 17, 2014, the
Transportation Security Administration’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Officer and
Office of Chief Counselor deliberately withheld information and misinformed him about the
status of the his FOIA request, which had an impact upon his ability to support his claim in his
previous EEO complaints. On November 13, 2015, the Agency issued its final order
dismissing the complaint for failure to state a claim pursuant to 29 C.F.R. § 1614.107(a)(1)

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.
0520160251

2
since Complainant’s claim was a collateral attack on the proceedings of another forum
(proceedings related to the FOIA). Our prior decision affirmed the Agency’s dismissal of the
complaint. In request, Complainant reiterates his arguments previously made.

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. 0120160744 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
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

June 23, 2016
Date