Nancy B. Marshall, Complainant,v.Eric K. Shinseki, Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionMar 30, 2009
0520090271 (E.E.O.C. Mar. 30, 2009)

0520090271

03-30-2009

Nancy B. Marshall, Complainant, v. Eric K. Shinseki, Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs, Agency.


Nancy B. Marshall,

Complainant,

v.

Eric K. Shinseki,

Secretary,

Department of Veterans Affairs,

Agency.

Request No. 0520090271

Appeal No. 0120082585

Agency No. 200I-0521-2006102200

DISMISSAL OF APPEAL

Complainant timely requested reconsideration of the decision in Nancy

B. Marshall v. Department of Veterans Affairs, EEOC Appeal No. 0120082585

(November 5, 2008). 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(b).

Our records indicate that on July 18, 2006, after complainant filed

her appeal with the Commission, she filed a civil action, Civil Action

No. CV-08-B-1282-S in the United States District Court for the Northern

District of Alabama, Southern Division. Therein, complainant raises

the same claims of a hostile work environment which she raised in

her EEO complaint, which is the subject of the instant request for

reconsideration.

The regulation found at 29 C.F.R. 1614.409 provides that the filing of

a civil action "shall terminate Commission processing of the appeal."

Commission regulations mandate dismissal of the EEO complaint under these

circumstances so as to prevent a complainant from simultaneously pursing

both administrative and judicial remedies on the same matters, wasting

resources, and creating the potential for inconsistent or conflicting

decisions, and in order to grant due deference to the authority of the

federal district court. See Stromgren v. Department of Veterans Affairs,

EEOC Request No. 05891079 (May 7, 1990); Sandy v. Department of Justice,

EEOC Appeal No. 01893513 (October 19, 1989); Kotwitz v. United States

Postal Service, EEOC Request No. 05880114 (October 25, 1988).

Accordingly, complainant's request for reconsideration is DISMISSED.

The decision in EEOC Appeal No. 0120082585 is VACATED. 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 (P0408)

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 (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

March 30, 2009

__________________

Date

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0520090271

U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION

Office of Federal Operations

P.O. Box 77960

Washington, DC 20013

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