U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION Office of Federal Operations P.O. Box 77960 Washington, DC 20013 Eugenia C.,1 Complainant, v. James F. Bridenstine, Administrator, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Kennedy Space Center), Agency. Request No. 2021000516 Appeal No. 2019004516 Hearing No. 510-2017-00101X Agency Nos. NCN-15-KSC-00042, NCN-16-KSC-00070 DECISION ON REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION Complainant requested that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC or Commission) reconsider its decision in Eugenia C. v. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, EEOC Appeal No. 2019004516 (September 17, 2020). EEOC Regulations provide that the Commission may, in its discretion, grant a request to reconsider any previous Commission decision issued pursuant to 29 C.F.R. § 1614.405(a), 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). On November 5, 2015, and September 23, 2016, Complainant filed her complaints, which were consolidated by the Agency for processing. Therein, Complainant alleged discrimination based on disability and in reprisal for prior EEO activity when: 1. From November 2003, she was subjected to harassment; 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. 2021000516 2 2. On February 13, 2015, she was issued Letter of Instruction for failure to follow Supervisory instructions followed by an Addendum dated April 23, 2015; 3. On March 30, 2015, she was issued a Notice of Proposed Suspension, which was sustained in a Notice of Decision dated April 17, 2015, resulting in a three-day suspension on a subsequent, though unspecified, period; 4. On June 8, 2015, she was issued an annual performance rating of “Unacceptable”; 5. On September 22, 2015, she was issued a proposed seven-day suspension which was sustained effective November 3, 2015; 6. On January 12, 2016, she was issued a proposed fourteen-day suspension which was sustained effective February 11, 2016; and 7. On or around June 6, 2016, she was issued a poor midterm evaluation. Complainant requested a hearing before an EEOC Administrative Judge (AJ). The AJ issued a decision without a hearing finding no discrimination. The Agency issued its final order implementing the AJ’s decision. Complainant appealed, and the Commission’s prior decision affirmed the Agency’s decision. In her request, Complainant reiterates arguments she previously made. The Commission emphasizes that a request for reconsideration is not a second appeal to the Commission. Equal Employment Opportunity Management Directive for 29 C.F.R. Part 1614 (EEO MD-110) (Aug. 5, 2015), at 9-18; see, e.g., Lopez v. Dep't of Agric., EEOC Request No. 0520070736 (Aug. 20, 2007). Rather, a reconsideration request is an opportunity to demonstrate that the appellate decision involved a clearly erroneous interpretation of material fact or law, or will have a substantial impact on the policies, practices, or operations of the Agency. Complainant has not done so here. 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. § 1614.405(c), and it is the decision of the Commission to deny the request. The decision in EEOC Appeal No. 2019004516 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. 2021000516 3 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’s signature Carlton M. Hadden, Director Office of Federal Operations January 5, 2021 Date
