05a00608
10-19-2000
Gertrud Blair, Complainant, v. William S. Cohen, Secretary, Department of Defense, (Army & Air Force Exchange Service), Agency.
Gertrud Blair v. Department of Defense (AAFES)
05A00608
October 19, 2000
.
Gertrud Blair,
Complainant,
v.
William S. Cohen,
Secretary,
Department of Defense,
(Army & Air Force Exchange Service),
Agency.
Request No. 05A00608
Appeal No. 01992240
Agency No. 97-030
Hearing No. 350-97-8330X
DENIAL OF REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION
The complainant initiated a request to the Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission (EEOC or Commission) to reconsider the decision in Gertrud
Blair v. Department of Defense, EEOC Appeal No. 01992240 (March 13,
2000).<1> EEOC Regulations provide that the Commission may, in its
discretion, 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(b).
The underlying complaint alleged that complainant was retaliated against
for prior EEO activity when: (1) she was counseled for leaving her
assigned work area without notifying the Food Manager; (2) she received
a written reprimand in December, 1996; (3) she was counseled on December
19, 1996, for leaving her assigned work area; and (4) on January 31,
1997, she was issued a Final Notice of Suspension for February 22-28,
1997. Following a hearing, an EEOC Administrative Judge (AJ) found no
retaliation, and the AJ's findings and conclusions were adopted by the
final agency decision (FAD), which was affirmed by our prior decision.
In her request for reconsideration, complainant contends that the
disciplinary actions at issue were unwarranted. Complainant also asserts
that her subsequent termination constituted discrimination based on
disability ("post-traumatic stress syndrome and a heart condition"), a
claim which was not raised in the instant complaint and is not before us.
Finally, complainant contends that there were adverse consequences for
her health insurance coverage resulting from her termination.
After a review of the complainant's request for reconsideration, 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(b), and it
is the decision of the Commission to deny the request. The decision
in EEOC Appeal No. 01992240 remains the Commission's final decision.
There is no further right of administrative appeal on the decision of
the Commission on this request for reconsideration.
COMPLAINANT'S RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (P0900)
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 (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:
______________________________
Carlton M. Hadden, Director
Office of Federal Operations
October 19, 2000
Date
1On 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 29 C.F.R. Part 1614 in deciding the
present appeal. The regulations, as amended, may also be found at the
Commission's website at www.eeoc.gov.