05970631
01-08-1999
Joseph J. Warner v. Department of Veterans Affairs
05970631
January 8, 1999
Joseph J. Warner, )
Appellant, )
)
v. ) Request No. 05970631
) Appeal No. 01966901
Togo D. West, Jr., )
Secretary, )
Department of Veterans Affairs, )
Agency. )
___________________________________)
DENIAL OF REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION
On March 21, 1997, appellant timely initiated a request to the Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission to reconsider the decision in Joseph
J. Warner v. Jesse Brown, Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs,
EEOC Appeal No. 01966901 (March 11, 1997). EEOC Regulations provide that
the Commissioners may, in their discretion, reconsider any previous
Commission decision. 29 C.F.R. �1614.407(a). The party requesting
reconsideration must submit written argument or evidence which tends to
establish one or more of the following three criteria: new and material
evidence is available that was not readily available when the previous
decision was issued, 29 C.F.R. �1614.407(c)(1); the previous decision
involved an erroneous interpretation of law, regulation or material fact,
or misapplication of established policy, 29 C.F.R. �1614.407(c)(2);
and the previous decision is of such exceptional nature as to have
substantial precedential implications, 29 C.F.R. �1614.407(c)(3). For
the reasons below, the Commission denies appellant's request.
The previous decision dismissed appellant's appeal after the agency
notified the Commission that appellant had filed a civil action on
the same allegations that were raised in his administrative complaint.
In his request for reconsideration, appellant argues that he is merely a
co-plaintiff in the civil action, and consequently, that the civil action
does not focus solely on his allegations. Our regulations clearly state,
however, that the filing of a civil action terminates administrative
processing of an appeal. 29 C.F.R. � 1614.110. This is true regardless
of whether the civil action includes other issues. The two allegations
raised in appellant's complaint were: his assignment to medical officer
of the day detail despite his disability; and termination of appellant's
participation in a medical research project. These allegations are
set forth in paragraphs 49(1) and 49(2) of appellant's complaint in the
civil action. Consequently, our previous decision correctly dismissed
appellant's appeal.
After a review of appellant's request for reconsideration, the agency's
response thereto, the previous decision, and the entire record, the
Commission finds appellant's request does not meet the criteria of
29 C.F.R. �1614.407(c), and it is the decision of the Commission to
deny appellant's request. The decision of the Commission in Appeal
No. 01966901 remains the Commission's final decision. There is no further
right of administrative appeal from a decision of the Commission on a
request for reconsideration.
RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (P0993)
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.
It is the position of the Commission that 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.
You should be aware, however, that courts in some jurisdictions have
interpreted the Civil Rights Act of 1991 in a manner suggesting that
a civil action must be filed WITHIN THIRTY (30) CALENDAR DAYS from the
date that you receive this decision. To ensure that your civil action
is considered timely, you are advised to file it WITHIN THIRTY (30)
CALENDAR DAYS from the date that you receive this decision or to consult
an attorney concerning the applicable time period in the jurisdiction
in which your action would be filed. 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 (Z1092)
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:
JAN 8, 1999
_______________ ______________________________
Date Frances M. Hart
Executive Officer
Executive Secretariat