05971098
09-10-1999
) Request No. 05971098
Francis Johnson-Feldman, et al. v. Department of Veterans Affairs
05971098
September 10, 1999
Francis Johnson-Feldman, et al., )
Appellants, )
) Request No. 05971098
v. ) Appeal No. 01953168
)
Togo D. West, Jr., )
Secretary, )
Department of Veterans Affairs, )
Agency. )
)
DENIAL OF REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION
On September 19, 1997, the Department of Veterans Affairs (hereinafter
referred to as the agency) initiated a request to the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission (the Commission) to reconsider the decision in
Francis Johnson-Feldman, et al. v. Jesse Brown, Secretary, Department of
Veterans Affairs, EEOC Appeal No. 01953168 (August 7, 1997), received
by the agency on August 20, 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 a misapplication of established policy, 29 C.F.R. �1614.407(c)(2);
and the decision is of such exceptional nature as to have substantial
precedential implications, 29 C.F.R. �1614.407(c)(3).
After a review of the agency's request for reconsideration, the previous
decision, and the entire record, the Commission finds that the agency's
request does not meet the criteria in 29 C.F.R. �1614.407(c). Therefore,
it is the decision of the Commission to deny the agency's request.<1> The
decision in EEOC Appeal No. 01953168 (August 7, 1997), finding that the
complaint at issue satisfies the prerequisites for class certification,
remains the Commission's final decision. The agency shall comply with
the provisions of the Order set forth below. There is no further right
of administrative appeal on a decision of the Commission on this Request
for Reconsideration.
ORDER
The agency is ORDERED to process the remanded class complaint in
accordance with 29 C.F.R. �1614.204(e) et seq. Within fifteen (15)
calendar days of the date this decision becomes final, the agency shall
notify all class members of the acceptance of the class complaint in
accordance with the requirements of �1614.204(e). Within thirty (30)
calendar days of the date this decision becomes final, the agency shall
provide the appropriate EEOC District Office with a copy of the notice
sent to the class members, and shall request the appointment of an
administrative judge, who shall undertake the continued processing of
the complaint pursuant to �1614.204(f) et seq. The agency shall provide
a copy of the notice of certification and request for appointment of an
administrative judge to the Compliance Officer, as referenced below.
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMISSION'S DECISION (K0595)
Compliance with the Commission's corrective action is mandatory.
The agency shall submit its compliance report within thirty (30)
calendar days of the completion of all ordered corrective action. The
report shall be submitted to the Compliance Officer, Office of Federal
Operations, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, P.O. Box 19848,
Washington, D.C. 20036. The agency's report must contain supporting
documentation, and the agency must send a copy of all submissions to
the appellant. If the agency does not comply with the Commission's
order, the appellant may petition the Commission for enforcement of
the order. 29 C.F.R. �1614.503 (a). The appellant also has the right
to file a civil action to enforce compliance with the Commission's
order prior to or following an administrative petition for enforcement.
See 29 C.F.R. �� 1614.408, 1614.409, and 1614.503 (g). Alternatively,
the appellant has the right to file a civil action on the underlying
complaint in accordance with the paragraph below entitled "Right to File
A Civil Action." 29 C.F.R. �� 1614.408 and 1614.409. A civil action for
enforcement or a civil action on the underlying complaint is subject to
the deadline stated in 42 U.S.C. �2000e-16(c) (Supp. V 1993). If the
appellant files a civil action, the administrative processing of the
complaint, including any petition for enforcement, will be terminated.
See 29 C.F.R. �1614.410.
STATEMENT OF RIGHTS ON REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION
RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (R0993)
This is a decision requiring the agency to continue its administrative
processing of your complaint. However, if you wish to file a civil
action, you have the right to file such 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. In the alternative,
you may file a civil action AFTER ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY (180) CALENDAR
DAYS of the date you filed your complaint with the agency, or filed your
appeal with the Commission. 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.
Filing a civil action will terminate the administrative processing of
your complaint.
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:
September 10, 1999
Date Frances M. Hart
Executive Officer
Executive Secretariat
1The Commission notes that the initial appeal was timely filed, as evidenced
by the March 17, 1995 postmark.