Otis B.,1 Complainant,v.John Kerry, Secretary, Department of State, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Jan 15, 2016

0520150477 (E.E.O.C. Jan. 15, 2016)

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

Otis B.,1
Complainant,

v.

John Kerry,
Secretary,
Department of State,
Agency.

Request No. 0520150477

Appeal No. 0120132947

Agency No. DOSF01913

DECISION ON REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION

Complainant requested reconsideration of the decision in EEOC Appeal No. 0120132947 (July
28, 2015). 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).

In his underlying complaint, Complainant alleged that he was subjected to unlawful religious
discrimination and retaliation when on July 18, 2012, the Agency denied him medical
clearance to return to Afghanistan. The Agency’s final decision found no discrimination. On
appeal, the Commission affirmed the Agency’s decision, finding that Complainant failed to
show that the Agency’s articulated legitimate, nondiscriminatory reasons for its actions were a
pretext for discrimination.

In his request for reconsideration, Complainant reiterates many of the same arguments raised
and fully considered on appeal. Therefore, 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.

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.
0520150477

2
§1614.405(c), and it is the decision of the Commission to deny the request. The decision in
EEOC Appeal No. 0120132947 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, Director
Office of Federal Operations

January 15, 2016
Date