Debra Lamb, Complainant,v.Pete Geren, Secretary, Department of the Army, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionSep 3, 2009
0120092255 (E.E.O.C. Sep. 3, 2009)

0120092255

09-03-2009

Debra Lamb, Complainant, v. Pete Geren, Secretary, Department of the Army, Agency.


Debra Lamb,

Complainant,

v.

Pete Geren,

Secretary,

Department of the Army,

Agency.

Appeal No. 0120092255

Agency No. ARCARSON08SEP03687

DECISION

Complainant filed a timely appeal with this Commission from a final

decision (FAD) by the agency dated February 25, 2009, finding that it

was in compliance with the terms of the November 3, 2008 settlement

agreement into which the parties entered. See 29 C.F.R. � 1614.402;

29 C.F.R. � 1614.504(b); and 29 C.F.R. � 1614.405.

The settlement agreement provided, in pertinent part, that complainant

would be:

(a) Permanently reassigned from Planning Division, facility

Planning and Utilization Specialist, GS1101-11 to Housing Division,

Housing management Specialist, GS 1173-11 within 60 days of signing this

agreement.

By letter to the agency dated February 3, 2009, complainant alleged that

the agency was in breach of the settlement agreement, and requested that

the agency reinstate her complaint. Specifically, complainant alleged

that the agency failed to reassign her until January 5, 2009 and the

agreement called for her reassignment by January 3, 2009. Complainant

asserted that she should be permanently reassigned but the position she

was in was not classified as permanent or as an over hire. Complainant

pointed out an error in her SF-50 and complained about the conditions

of her office.

In its February 25, 2009 FAD, the agency concluded it was not in

breach of the agreement. The agency noted that the SF-50 shows that

complainant's reassignment was effective December 21, 2008 and found that

the reassignment was permanent. The agency acknowledge there was an error

as to the name and location of the position's organization on the SF-50

and took steps to correct it. Finally, as to the substandard office, the

agency noted that such was not part of the agreement and that complainant

should contact an EEO counselor regarding the matter if she so desired.

EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R. � 1614.504(a) provides that any settlement

agreement knowingly and voluntarily agreed to by the parties, reached at

any stage of the complaint process, shall be binding on both parties.

The Commission has held that a settlement agreement constitutes a

contract between the employee and the agency, to which ordinary rules of

contract construction apply. See Herrington v. Department of Defense,

EEOC Request No. 05960032 (December 9, 1996). The Commission has further

held that it is the intent of the parties as expressed in the contract,

not some unexpressed intention, that controls the contract's construction.

Eggleston v. Department of Veterans Affairs, EEOC Request No. 05900795

(August 23, 1990). In ascertaining the intent of the parties with regard

to the terms of a settlement agreement, the Commission has generally

relied on the plain meaning rule. See Hyon O v. United States Postal

Service, EEOC Request No. 05910787 (December 2, 1991). This rule states

that if the writing appears to be plain and unambiguous on its face,

its meaning must be determined from the four corners of the instrument

without resort to extrinsic evidence of any nature. See Montgomery

Elevator Co. v. Building Eng'g Servs. Co., 730 F.2d 377 (5th Cir. 1984).

In the instant case, the Commission finds that complainant was reassigned

as stated in the agreement. Even if she did not move into the office

until January 5, 2009, the time difference was de minimus. In her

appeal, complainant mainly focuses on dissatisfaction with her job and

its responsibilities. To that extent, as noted by the agency, subsequent

acts of discrimination may be raised with an EEO counselor. However,

the settlement agreement required the agency to transfer complainant to

the position. Accordingly, the Commission finds there was no breach of

the agreement.

STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL

RECONSIDERATION (M1208)

The Commission may, in its discretion, reconsider the decision in this

case if the complainant or the agency submits a written request containing

arguments or evidence which tend to establish 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.

Requests to reconsider, with supporting statement or brief, must be filed

with the Office of Federal Operations (OFO) within thirty (30) calendar

days of receipt of this decision or within twenty (20) calendar days of

receipt of another party's timely request for reconsideration. See 29

C.F.R. � 1614.405; Equal Employment Opportunity Management Directive for

29 C.F.R. Part 1614 (EEO MD-110), 9-18 (November 9, 1999). All requests

and arguments must be submitted to the Director, Office of Federal

Operations, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, P.O. Box 77960,

Washington, DC 20013. In the absence of a legible postmark, the request

to reconsider shall be deemed timely filed if it is received by mail

within five days of the expiration of the applicable filing period.

See 29 C.F.R. � 1614.604. The request or opposition must also include

proof of service on the other party.

Failure to file within the time period will result in dismissal of your

request for reconsideration as untimely, unless extenuating circumstances

prevented the timely filing of the request. Any supporting documentation

must be submitted with your request for reconsideration. The Commission

will consider requests for reconsideration filed after the deadline only

in very limited circumstances. See 29 C.F.R. � 1614.604(c).

COMPLAINANT'S RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (S0408)

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. If you

file a request to reconsider and also file a civil action, filing a civil

action will terminate the administrative processing of your complaint.

RIGHT TO REQUEST COUNSEL (Z1008)

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 from the Court that

the Court appoint an attorney to represent you and that the Court also

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 with

the Court 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:

______________________________

Carlton M. Hadden, Director

Office of Federal Operations

September 3, 2009

__________________

Date

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0120092255

U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION

Office of Federal Operations

P.O. Box 77960

Washington, DC 20013

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0120092255